News
Ghana calls US’s bluff
Ghana has called the bluff of the Donald Trump led US government as it ended talks for a multi-year aid deal with the United States after Washington demanded access to citizens’ personal data.
A source close to the west African nation’s government, formerly known as Gold Coast disclosed this to AFP.
The United States has been striking new health aid deals across Africa after the administration of US President Donald Trump dismantled the long-standing USAID agency and curtailed the role of NGOs.
It was unclear what the proposed Ghana funding deal specifically covered, or what the personal data relates to.
“The deal is dead,” the source said this week, noting that Ghana’s negotiating team included health officials, suggesting it may have been partly tied to health.
The US team became “hostile” and piled on “pressure” after Ghana pushed back on the demand for personal data, the source told AFP.
A spokesman for Ghana’s health ministry did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
The deal would have provided Ghana $109 million in funding for five years, according to the source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, without confirming the specific areas of focus of the proposal.
A spokesperson told AFP in an emailed statement that the US State Department “does not disclose the details of ongoing bilateral negotiations” and suggested the funding would have supported “fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases”.
The funding offered to the west African nation was far less than the $2.5 billion and $2.1 billion offered to Kenya and Nigeria respectively.
At least 32 such deals worth about $20.6 billion under the America First Global Health Strategy had been signed as of Monday, according to the US State Department.
More than a dozen African countries have signed on, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Lesotho and Eswatini.
Zimbabwe rejected a similar proposal in February, saying the terms threatened its autonomy. Zambia followed suit in March.
Kenya’s deal — the first of such bilateral agreements — was suspended by a court a week after it was signed in December over concerns about sharing personal data.
Relations between Accra and Washington had been cordial in recent months.
They received a boost after Ghana signed a deal in September to receive West Africans deported from the United States, with Washington reversing its visa restrictions — put in place in June — on Ghanaians.
Washington also rolled back the 15-percent tariff imposed on Ghana’s cocoa and agricultural exports in November.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, relies heavily on export revenues to stabilise its currency and finance public spending.
The US disbursed some $219.4 million and $138.5 million to Ghana in 2024 and 2025 respectively to fund agriculture, health and other projects, according to ForeignAssistance.gov.
“We continue to look for ways to strengthen the bilateral partnership between our two countries,” the US State Department said.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has alleged that suspected hired thugs obstructed his visit to Yelwata community in Benue State, where more than 270 people were reportedly killed in a deadly attack.
Obi made the allegation in a statement following his arrival in Benue on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, saying he had travelled to the state on a humanitarian mission to commiserate with families affected by the killings.
According to him, he arrived in Benue at about 9:00 a.m. but his convoy was prevented from proceeding to the affected community by individuals chanting, “Peter Obi, go back.”
Obi described the incident as distressing, stressing that his visit was not politically motivated but intended to mourn with the bereaved, listen to affected families and offer solidarity following the tragedy.
He said the obstruction was particularly troubling at a time when Nigerians should be united in grief and focused on preventing further loss of lives.
The former governor recalled that he had consistently promoted political civility, citing his attendance the previous day at the opening of the national campaign office of opposition presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in Abuja.
He said his presence at the event was meant to demonstrate that political differences should not prevent mutual respect and civility.
Obi also recalled that while serving as governor of Anambra State, he personally welcomed visiting opposition members during election campaigns, provided their activities remained within the law.
He condemned what he described as efforts to deepen political divisions, insisting that Nigerians should be able to live, travel and farm without fear.
“At a time when our nation should be united in grief and resolute in preventing further bloodshed, we must reject any action capable of deepening our divisions,” Obi said.
He maintained that the primary responsibility of government was to protect human life, arguing that political considerations should never take precedence over the safety and security of citizens.
Although he could not reach Yelwata as planned, Obi said his thoughts and prayers remained with the victims, their families and the entire community.
He pledged to continue advocating for the protection of Nigerian lives, concluding with his familiar declaration: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
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