President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that Ghana lost approximately $78 million in health funding following the suspension of some United States aid programmes to African countries.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Monday, May 18, President Mahama said the reduction in support had significantly affected Ghana’s healthcare sector and broader development agenda.
According to him, the funding cuts impacted key health programmes including malaria control, maternal and child healthcare, nutrition, HIV/AIDS testing and the supply of antiretroviral drugs.
President Mahama also expressed concern over the sharp decline in global health assistance since the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that international humanitarian support had dropped by about 40 per cent.
He noted that Ghana was among the countries heavily affected by the reduction in bilateral and multilateral health financing since 2025.
The President further stated that the budget of the World Health Organization had also been severely impacted by the withdrawal of US support, forcing the organisation to scale down programmes and reduce staff.
President Mahama, who attended the Assembly to advocate greater health sovereignty for countries in the Global South, stressed the need for African nations to strengthen domestic healthcare systems and reduce dependence on foreign aid.
The 79th World Health Assembly has brought together world leaders, policymakers and health experts to discuss major global health challenges and sustainable healthcare financing.