Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has warned that the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) presents a significant threat to Ghana’s health system and global health governance, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Dr. Agyemang described the US exit as a “structural challenge” to the global health architecture, noting that the United States had historically contributed about 15 percent of the WHO’s total budget through assessed and voluntary funding.
He explained that the loss of this funding source could weaken the WHO’s capacity to deliver critical services such as disease surveillance, emergency response, technical assistance, and the development of global health standards—areas on which Ghana’s health system heavily relies.
“The depletion of WHO resources threatens the effectiveness of programmes that support epidemic intelligence, immunisation coordination, malaria control, maternal and child health, and broader health system strengthening,” he stated.
Dr. Agyemang warned that Ghana could face heightened risks in public health security, especially in managing climate-sensitive and epidemic-prone diseases such as cholera, meningitis, and emerging zoonotic infections. According to him, reduced multilateral health financing historically has the greatest impact on countries with limited fiscal capacity, increasing their vulnerability to public health emergencies.
Beyond national implications, the MP highlighted broader concerns about global health coordination. He said the WHO’s convening power is central to aligning donor efforts, enforcing the International Health Regulations, and ensuring equitable access to vaccines and essential medicines.
“The weakening of multilateral leadership risks fragmented responses, duplicated interventions, and a shift toward interest-driven bilateral partnerships that may not align with Ghana’s national health priorities or universal health coverage goals,” he cautioned.
Dr. Agyemang noted that such fragmentation could increase transaction costs for Ghana’s health sector, complicate long-term planning, and undermine predictability in health financing.
Despite these challenges, he said the situation also presents an opportunity for Ghana to strengthen its health system resilience. He pointed to ongoing reforms, including the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme and innovative financing for non-communicable diseases, as buffers against external funding shocks.
He called for deeper South–South cooperation, stronger partnerships with alternative multilateral institutions, and accelerated investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependence on a single global actor.
“The evidence shows that countries that diversify health partnerships and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation are more resilient to disruptions in external aid,” he said.
Dr. Agyemang commended the Government of Ghana for progress made in advancing national health priorities but stressed that the current global health landscape demands coordinated action from all stakeholders.
He urged enhanced diplomatic engagement to stabilise global health financing, sustained investment in disease surveillance and emergency preparedness, and increased funding for primary healthcare. He also emphasised the importance of cutting-edge, policy-relevant public health research as a catalyst for informed decision-making.
“At this pivotal moment, sustained multilateral cooperation remains essential to protecting vulnerable populations, safeguarding national health security, and reinforcing collective global resilience,” the statement concluded.