The Price of Sovereignty: Mahama’s Bold No to US Health Millions

When the US government under Donald Trump decided to review its foreign policy on health financing, resulting in the withdrawal of critical funding for health programs, many thought Africa's health delivery systems would collapse.

While I cannot speak for other countries, Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama took a bold step by resorting to local resource mobilization to fill the gap. Indeed, he called on other African leaders to prioritize domestic resource mobilization.

Subsequently, I wrote an article published on ModernGhana urging African leaders to stop depending on donor support for economic transformation.

See: It Is High Time African Leaders Stopped Depending On Donor Support For Economic Transformation

The subject of self-reliance has long remained mere rhetoric since independence. Many African countries, including Ghana, have failed to live by their own words. They continue to go around the world, virtually begging, making their sovereignties susceptible to foreign exploitation through conditional support policies that keep thwarting our development efforts.

Government after government has failed the test of self-reliance. In practical terms, countries depend on one another in one way or another, but that must be based on strategic partnerships for mutual benefit. When powerful countries seek to exploit, limit, and inhibit the progress of others through so-called grants, due diligence must be exercised.

The NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo came with “Ghana Beyond Aid,” but it ended as rhetoric. We went around the globe virtually begging. Besides this, we borrowed from some of these countries to the point where we could no longer pay, and had to plead for debt write-offs. Whether or not that was strategic for our economic growth is for right-thinking Ghanaians to judge. What I can state as a fact is that these actions do not enhance the country's international image.

I am, however, pleased that Ghana is beginning to think beyond short-term benefits. I have read news of Ghana rejecting donor health support from the US.

See: https://apnews.com/article/ghana-us-health-deal-africa-usaid-f29f680cc017204de9269159f34b250d

It is not that we do not need the support, but the conditions attached to it caused the rejection. If Ghana had accepted, the US would have had free access to our health data, which could compromise data security and further undermine the sovereignty of the country.

I think the John Dramani Mahama-led government must be commended for flatly rejecting this money, even though the amount could have solved most of our health problems. This singular act opens a new chapter in our national interest agenda on the international stage. Yes, we need help, but we cannot accept any help simply because we need it.

Denis Andaban
The Village Boy From DBI