President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that Ghana lost about $78 million following the decision by the United States to withhold aid to some African countries.

He made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in Geneva on Monday, May 18, 2026.

“In Ghana, health financing from bilateral and multilateral partners has significantly decreased since 2025. Ghana lost $78 million in health funding following the closure of US aid programs,” he stated.

President Mahama further explained that funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had supported several key health interventions in the country.

“This money went mainly into malaria control programmes, maternal and child health services, nutrition interventions, and HIV/AIDS programmes, including testing and the delivery of antiretroviral drugs,” he said.

He also noted broader disruptions in global health financing, pointing to reductions in support across multiple regions.

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“Six years after the last global pandemic, COVID-19, the world health architecture is changing rapidly. Overall humanitarian assistance is reported to have declined by 40 percent, and some of the largest Western economies have significantly cut their overseas development assistance,” he stated.

President Mahama further warned that the World Health Organization (WHO) has also been affected by declining support.

“The World Health Organization’s budget has been reduced due to the withdrawal of US assistance, forcing the organisation to scale down programmes and undertake staff retrenchment,” he added.

He stressed the importance of African countries reducing overreliance on foreign aid to ensure the sustainability of public health systems.

The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) brought together global leaders, policymakers, and health experts to discuss pressing global health challenges, including pandemic preparedness, health financing, and system reforms.

The discussions are expected to shape international health priorities in the coming years, particularly in addressing health emergencies, financing gaps, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions.

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