Ghana is grappling with a $156 million shortfall in its state budget following the U.S. administration’s crackdown on USAID, its largest development and humanitarian aid agency.
The sudden loss of American development assistance has had a significant impact on Ghana’s health and agriculture sectors, prompting President John Mahama to direct Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to find alternative funding solutions.
USAID has played a critical role in Ghana’s development, particularly in the creation of an advanced national surveillance system for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Additionally, the agency has helped boost Ghanaian agricultural firms, making them more competitive in regional and international markets.
President Donald Trump had signed an executive order slashing nearly all U.S. foreign aid, sparking concerns about the impact on African countries that rely heavily on American humanitarian assistance.
Despite global backlash leading to some exemptions, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most vulnerable. Last year alone, the U.S. provided the region with over $6.5 billion in humanitarian assistance.