Ghana is now facing a significant budget shortfall of $156 million following the Trump administration’s decision to freeze USAID funding. This loss has had a substantial impact on key sectors in Ghana, including health and agriculture, where USAID support was vital. Prior to its shutdown, the agency supported the operation of an advanced national surveillance system for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Beyond this, USAID supported initiatives to boost the competitiveness of Ghanaian agricultural firms in both regional and international markets. In response to the shortfall, Ghana’s President John Mahama has instructed Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to devise strategies to close the funding gap and maintain vital services. The shortfall underscores the broader consequences of the US aid freeze on Ghana’s developmental progress and its ability to support essential public services.
Source: africanews