Accra: Ghana has declined a proposed health agreement with the United States, citing concerns over provisions that would have granted American entities access to sensitive national health data without sufficient safeguards. As per reports this marks Ghana as the latest African nation to step away from the deal over similar issues.

Concerns over scope of data access

Arnold Kavaarpuo, Executive Director of Ghana’s Data Protection Commission, said the level of access requested exceeded what would normally be necessary. He noted that the scope “went far beyond what would typically be required for the purpose for which it's stated.”

The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the remarks.

Wider shift in US health funding approach

The United States has entered into comparable health agreements with nearly two dozen African countries as part of the America First framework under the Donald Trump administration. This newer model, introduced late last year, replaces earlier arrangements managed through the now-dissolved United States Agency for International Development.

These agreements are designed to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to countries affected by reductions in US aid, supporting public health systems and efforts to tackle disease outbreaks.

Data privacy issues raised across Africa

Despite the financial incentives, the deals have sparked concerns around data privacy. In February, officials in Zimbabwe said they rejected a similar proposal, citing issues related to data use, fairness and national sovereignty. Zambia is also reported to have raised objections to certain provisions, though a final decision has not yet been announced.

Activists across the continent argue that such agreements often lack adequate protections for data usage. In Nigeria, concerns have also been raised that US support has been directed mainly towards Christian faith-based healthcare providers, making the arrangements restrictive.

Regional health body flags concerns

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Jean Kaseya has also expressed “huge concerns” about aspects such as data and pathogen sharing while speaking to reporters on the agreements.

Ghana cites lack of oversight and approval

Under the proposed agreement, valued at around USD 300 million, Ghana was expected to receive approximately USD 109 million over five years, along with additional funding from its own government.

Kavaarpuo said one provision allowed for individuals to be identified where deemed necessary within sensitive health datasets. He argued that such clauses effectively placed the country’s health data systems under external control.

“That, in effect, was outsourcing the health data architecture of the country to a foreign body,” he said. “The proposed data sharing agreement looked at access not only to health data sets, but also to metadata, dashboards, reporting tools, data models and data dictionaries.”

No prior approval mechanism

According to Kavaarpuo, the proposal would have allowed up to 10 US entities to access this information without requiring prior approval from Ghana, regardless of the purpose.

“We did not get a sense that Ghana had any real governance oversight when it came to how the data was going to be utilised. It was more or less if they undertook an exercise, they will notify the country. So it was not a prior approval arrangement,” he said.

Decision communicated to US

Kavaarpuo confirmed that Ghana has formally informed the United States of its decision to reject the proposal. He added that the country has sought improved terms in the hope of negotiating a more balanced agreement.

With agency inputs