Ghana’s President John Mahama has defended his government’s rejection of a roughly $100 million United States health compact, describing its conditions as humiliating.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mahama said the five-year proposal came with demands around medical data, pathogen profiling and regulatory oversight that Accra found unacceptable. He said Ghana would not trade sovereignty for funding.

The decision marks a notable break in US-Ghana health cooperation and comes amid wider global debate over the terms attached to Western health aid. Mahama insisted Ghana would seek partnerships built on mutual respect.

US officials have not publicly responded to the remarks. Analysts say the episode reflects a growing assertiveness among African governments in negotiating the terms of foreign health assistance.

The dispute comes as Western donors rethink global health spending, with several countries cutting aid budgets this year. Ghanaian officials say they remain open to health partnerships, including with the United States, provided the terms respect national sovereignty and data governance laws.