Ghana’s health and development sectors are facing increasing pressure after the recent withdrawal of key programs by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

While government and development experts express concern over the impact on public health, a number of local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working to adjust their strategies to meet the changing needs on the ground.

National Concerns
The cuts have prompted a national discussion on donor dependency and the sustainability of Ghana’s health infrastructure. In a parliamentary debate on the Impact of USAID Shutdown on Ghana’s Economy, lawmakers noted that the loss of USAID support could undermine existing public health interventions, including immunisation campaigns and HIV/AIDS prevention efforts (Parliament of Ghana, 2025).

Development economist Dr. Hayford Ayerakwa emphasized the risks to underserved communities. In comments published by Dubawa Ghana, he warned that “remote and northern regions may face the most significant disruptions, particularly in access to essential medical supplies and immunization services” (Dubawa Ghana, 2025).

A Global Context
The concern in Ghana reflects a broader global trend. A study published in The Lancet projected that cuts to USAID programs could result in 14 million additional deaths worldwide by 2030, many of them preventable, with children under five among the hardest hit (The Lancet, 2025). The Boston University School of Public Health also reported that nearly 90,000 people died globally within six months of a freeze on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), underscoring the immediate human cost of reduced U.S. foreign aid.

The Role of Local Nonprofits
In the Northern Region, several local and international organizations have been active in addressing the needs of communities affected by the funding shift. One such group, Give Basic Needs, a nonprofit operating under the Colussi Family Foundation, has expanded its work in areas like Tamale and Gushegu.

Since 2023, the organization has undertaken various community-level activities, including:

- Health Initiatives: Give Basic Needs has provided medical screenings for residents and students, with a focus on malaria, Hepatitis B & C, and HIV/AIDS. The organization has also partnered with the Ghana AIDS Commission on the distribution of HIV test kits, condoms, and educational materials.

- Water and Sanitation: In villages such as Dekpunga, Nabule, and Sampemo, the nonprofit has supported the refurbishment and drilling of boreholes to provide access to clean water, reaching an estimated 3,500 people.

- Food Security: The organization has initiated food distribution programs in several communities, delivering rice, pineapples, and cooking oil to households struggling with food insecurity.

Local leaders have acknowledged the contributions of organizations like Give Basic Needs. “Without these screenings and boreholes, our families would have lost hope,” said Alhaji Mahama, a traditional leader in Gushegu.

Other groups are also responding. Savana Signatures, a Tamale-based NGO, has warned that the sudden halt in international funding is disrupting education and youth development programs in the north, further exposing the fragility of Ghana’s donor-dependent model (Savana Signatures, 2025).

Sustainability and the Path Forward
While community-based efforts are providing some relief, analysts suggest that these initiatives alone cannot fully replace the multi-billion-dollar scale of USAID’s programs. Dr. Ayerakwa and other experts have argued that while grassroots interventions are valuable, they must be complemented by stronger state financing and renewed international commitments to build a resilient health system.

Give Basic Needs has stressed that even modest support can make an impact, noting that $10,000 is sufficient to fund two additional boreholes or provide disease testing for more than 22,000 individuals. But the organization also acknowledges that the scale of need far exceeds what smaller nonprofits can achieve on their own.

The ongoing situation serves as a case study in both the challenges of donor aid dependency and the capacity of local organizations to respond quickly to community needs. As Ghana adjusts to one of its most significant aid shortfalls in decades, groups like Give Basic Needs are stepping forward, but experts warn that their efforts must be matched by coordinated government action and sustained international engagement if progress is to be preserved.