Ghana has declined a proposed U.S. health cooperation agreement worth approximately $109 million, citing concerns over data protection and national digital sovereignty, officials said, as Zimbabwe has also reportedly stepped back from a similar arrangement.

According to Ghanaian authorities, the decision follows concerns that the proposed agreement would grant extensive access to sensitive health data collected under U.S.-supported public health programs, including initiatives targeting HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Officials in Accra said the terms raised questions about compliance with Ghana’s data protection framework and the extent of external access to nationally collected medical information. The government emphasized the need to safeguard health data sovereignty as a condition for any international partnership.

In Zimbabwe, officials have also expressed reservations about comparable U.S. health funding arrangements, citing similar concerns over data governance and the handling of sensitive health information. While details of the Zimbabwean case differ, the move reflects broader scrutiny of external health partnerships across parts of Africa.

The U.S. has historically been a major funder of public health initiatives across the continent through programs supporting disease prevention and health system strengthening. However, some recent agreements have faced growing scrutiny from African governments over data usage, privacy protections, and long-term digital sovereignty.

Analysts say the developments highlight an emerging tension between the need for external health financing and increasing demands by African states for greater control over locally generated data.

Neither the U.S. government nor Ghanaian health partners have publicly commented in detail on the specific terms of the rejected agreement at the time of publication.