Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has told Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to act fast and fill a $156 million funding gap after the U.S. cut off aid from USAID, according to a statement from his office.
President Donald Trump had signed an executive order slashing nearly all U.S. foreign aid, sparking concerns about the impact on African countries that rely heavily on American humanitarian assistance.
Despite global backlash leading to some exemptions, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most vulnerable. Last year alone, the U.S. provided the region with over $6.5 billion in humanitarian assistance.
Impact on Ghana
The suspension of USAID funding is expected to hit key sectors in Ghana, affecting healthcare, education, and agriculture. In 2024, the agency committed $25 million over five years to improve healthcare services, but with the aid now on hold, hospitals and clinics may struggle to access essential resources, according to Dubawa.
The education sector, which receives around $40 million annually from USAID for teacher training, literacy programs, and school infrastructure, could also suffer, leaving students and teachers in limbo.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s farmers, who rely on USAID’s support for better farming techniques, food supply chains, and overall food security, may face greater hardships, potentially worsening poverty in rural communities.
Growing struggles and uncertain future
While the full impact of the cuts is still unfolding, some African countries are already feeling the strain. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative led by Elon Musk, has blocked funding for Liberia, scrapping a $17 million project meant to help with tax policy.
In addition, Trump has frozen aid to South Africa over its controversial land expropriation law, which allows the government to reclaim land in the public interest without compensation.
The withdrawal of vital U.S. support is expected to trigger numerous challenges, including worsening existing conflicts, deepening humanitarian crises, and heightening instability across Africa.
Countries like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, already grappling with famine, displacement, and internal conflict, could face even greater hardships as aid dries up. Other fragile regions could also see escalating tensions as essential funding disappears.
With Africa on the frontlines of these drastic cuts, leaders are scrambling to mitigate the fallout, even as the long-term consequences remain uncertain.
