President John Mahama has justified government decision to reject a health compact from United States in New York describing the terms as humiliating and a breach of sovereignty.
The United States offered some $100 million to Ghana to support health needs through a compact that reportedly required access to health records of Ghanaians in exchange. A demand the President flatly rejected with full Cabinet backing.
Speaking at Council on Foreign Relations engagement a side event of UN General Assembly, President Mahama said Ghana will not be a dumping ground under his watch. He said partnerships must respect Ghana dignity and data laws.
According to President Mahama, Cabinet reviewed the compact and unanimously opposed the condition to hand over citizen health data. He said $100 million cannot buy access to sensitive health information of millions of Ghanaians. Government insists on alternative funding without strings.
Ghana health sector relies on donor support for commodities, infrastructure and disease control. However data sovereignty concerns have grown with digitalization of health records. The Data Protection Commission is mandated to protect personal health data under Act 843.
The rejection has triggered national debate on aid conditionality and health financing. Many Ghanaians support the stance as defence of privacy. Others call for more domestic health funding to reduce dependency on foreign compacts.
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Author: Stella Sunu
