The Deputy Minister-Designate for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has stated that the sudden withdrawal of USAID funding should serve as a wake-up call for Ghana to start planning for self-sufficiency.
"It is important that we begin to plan our lives without aid and see what we can do for ourselves", he stated.
Speaking during his vetting before the Appointments Committee, he explained that foreign aid to Ghana has been declining over the years and is likely to cease entirely in the near future.
He noted that before USAID withdrew its funding, Ghana had been expecting approximately $150 million to support key sectors such as health, education, and the economy.
Advertisement
However, he emphasised that the timing of the withdrawal was fortunate, as the Ministry of Finance was in the process of preparing the 2025 budget.
He added that the President had already issued a directive to seek alternative funding sources to address the shortfall.
"It happened at a time, fortunately we are in the process of preparing the 2025 budget. So I am sure the Minister would be able to make provision to bridge the gap", he added.