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Mahama Urges Finance Minister to Fix Urgent USAID Funding Gap

Ghana Responds to USAID Aid Suspension as President Mahama Calls for Immediate Action

President Mahama Urges Finance Minister to Address USAID Funding Deficit Amid Trump's Aid Suspension — USAID

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the finance minister, has been directed by President John Dramani Mahama to act quickly to close the financial gap left by USAID’s suspension of its international assistance program. The President’s order comes after the US decided to stop providing international aid, a decision that might have a significant negative influence on Ghana’s vital humanitarian efforts.

Ghana is facing an estimated $156 million financial gap, with a projected $78.2 million shortfall endangering vital healthcare initiatives, according to a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Tuesday, February 11.

Programs for HIV/AIDS treatment, family planning, nutrition, reproductive health, maternity and child health, and malaria control are some of the areas most impacted. Antiretroviral medication availability, testing services, and preventative initiatives may be hampered by the funding disruption.

Following President Donald Trump’s recent attempts to abolish USAID and combine it with the U.S. Department of State, there is uncertainty surrounding the organization. Important development activities are in danger as a result of USAID employees being called back from international missions. Known for his “America First” philosophy, Trump has made no secret of his disapproval of international aid, calling USAID’s spending “wasteful.”

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump recently stated, “USAID’s spending IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE… CLOSE IT DOWN!” His administration’s move to eliminate USAID has sparked concerns about the future of global humanitarian assistance, particularly in developing nations like Ghana.

Elon Musk, a key Trump ally, has also backed the dissolution of USAID, labeling it a “criminal organization” without presenting substantial evidence. However, efforts to completely shut down the agency are expected to face legal hurdles.

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Established in the 1960s, USAID has been instrumental in global development, providing assistance to more than 60 nations and employing about 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom are employed abroad. The organization offers assistance for pandemic prevention, health programs including polio immunizations, and food security.

The U.S. government spent $68 billion on foreign aid in 2023 alone, with USAID overseeing nearly $40 billion of that total. The bulk of these monies were sent to Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, the fourth-largest donor in the world, the United Kingdom, gave £15.3 billion during the same time frame.

Ghana mostly depends on USAID assistance for important development initiatives. President Mahama has underlined how urgent it is to find alternate financing sources in light of Trump’s decision to halt foreign aid in order to avoid disruptions.

In order to alleviate the problem and guarantee continuous healthcare services, the Ghanaian government is currently investigating financing strategies. President Mahama has ordered that health programs be prioritized, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention.

Critics contend that the Trump administration’s foreign aid policies are opaque and politically motivated, notwithstanding the financing uncertainty. According to reports, Trump may have overstated his charges of wasteful spending and misrepresented certain projects.

Ghana is committed to filling the financing gap and protecting the welfare of its people as the world responds to USAID’s suspension. In order to preserve essential healthcare programs and find new financing sources, the government is actively interacting with stakeholders.

Ghana is still navigating the challenges of less international funding while legal disputes about USAID’s future loom. The international development community is keenly monitoring President Mahama’s efforts to offset the funding loss in order to determine how USAID’s restructure would affect vulnerable populations around the world.

The future of USAID and its recipients will be decided in large part over the next few months. Like many other countries that depend on U.S. help, Ghana now needs to prepare for the possibility of receiving less foreign aid in the future.

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