Ghanaian Health Sector Faces Strain as Donor Aid Remains Crucial
Ghana is not yet prepared to halt donor aid, according to former Deputy Health Minister Alexander Akwasi Acquah. He stated that stopping foreign support now would reveal significant problems in the nation's health funding. This comes after Ghana rejected a US health deal, sparking renewed discussions about the country's ability to fund its health system independently. Acquah highlighted existing issues with aid management and stressed that even the Abuja Declaration's 15% health spending commitment anticipates development partner support. He urged fixing waste in public spending and noted that parts of the health sector are already struggling due to reduced aid.
Ghana cannot yet afford to stop receiving aid from other countries for its health sector. Former Deputy Health Minister Alexander Akwasi Acquah believes an immediate end to this support would expose serious problems in how Ghana pays for healthcare. He shared these views on the program PM Express. Acquah is also a member of Parliament’s Health Committee.
Mr. Acquah stated plainly, “Well, currently, I would say no, we just have to do something about it.” His comments followed Ghana’s decision to reject a health agreement with the United States. This rejection led to new questions about Ghana’s readiness to pay for important parts of its health system without outside help. Even when aid does arrive, the country faces challenges. Acquah recalled his time as Deputy Minister. He found it hard to accept that aid in the form of medical supplies could not be cleared from the ports. He questioned how Ghana would manage if it stopped taking aid and instead taxed it for its own budget.
The former minister pointed to the Abuja Declaration. This international agreement asks countries to spend at least 15 per cent of their government budget on health. He explained that even this target acknowledges the need for financial help from developed countries and partners. Acquah suggested that Ghana must face this reality. He also stressed that fixing problems in how public money is spent should be the main focus. He mentioned that Dr. Nii Moi Thompson also suggested looking into government systems to remove waste.
Acquah warned that parts of the health sector are already feeling the impact. Aid is a major support for many areas. He said, “The health sector is suffering, because I know what is happening, especially when the USA and others got cut off.” Some sections of the health system had relied heavily on this support. Now, their absence makes things very difficult. He also mentioned that recent meetings with the Ghana Health Service revealed future risks. Program managers presented a clear picture of what lies ahead if financial planning for health is not improved.
Fortunately, not all international partners have withdrawn. Acquah noted that while the US has changed its approach, other donor agencies continue to work with Ghana. This gives Ghana a chance to develop new strategies and look for its own funding sources. The World Bank, for example, launched a strategy in May 2026 to help transform health systems in West and Central Africa, showing continued international interest in the region's health outcomes.
Source: StatsGH — Ghana's data-driven news platform