Feature: Beyond “Humiliating”: Ghana, the US Health Compact and the Work of Sovereignty

On September 2025, Ghana's President Mahama turned down a proposed US health compact worth $109 million over five years, stating that it would require Ghana to share its pathogen profile and medical records, and restrict the Food and Drugs Authority from inspecting imported medical products. The terms were described as "humiliating" by the President, leading to public support for Ghana's stance on social media.

The US Embassy later clarified that they had only sought aggregate data without personal identifiers, and mentioned that they had invested $2.2 billion in Ghana's health sector since 2012. The negotiations included claims such as pathogen profile, medical records, counterpart funding, exemption from FDA inspection, and a 25-year data term, which have not been confirmed or denied.

The Embassy's response suggested that the US phase-out was in alignment with Ghana's push for health sovereignty, while also pointing out that Congress needed to be held accountable. However, the Embassy did not address the 25-year term, commercial use of the data, the FDA exemption, and the asymmetry of obligations. Both sides' cases seem weaker than they appear, as the US denial left out key details, and Ghana's decision was made in a matter of days.

The compact would have allowed for access to health data, biological material, and regulatory systems, which could have a significant impact on disease burden, resistance patterns, and genetic characteristics.