President John Dramani Mahama has warned that the shutdown of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operations could drive nearly 5.7 million Africans into poverty by the end of 2026.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly on Monday, May 18, President Mahama said recent shifts in global aid support are already triggering serious humanitarian and public health consequences across Africa, with vulnerable communities suffering the most.
According to him, the withdrawal of funding tied to major health interventions, including programmes under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has disrupted healthcare delivery in several African countries.
He noted that the funding cuts have resulted in the closure of clinics, interruptions in gender-based violence support services, and growing uncertainty for millions of people living with HIV over access to life-saving treatment.
President Mahama pointed specifically to South Africa, where an estimated 1.4 million HIV patients are reportedly at risk due to disruptions linked to reduced donor support.
He further warned that if the decline in global health assistance continues, projections suggest up to nine million preventable deaths could occur by 2030, posing a major threat to global health security.
“It is estimated that the direct consequences of this aid suspension could push about 5.7 million Africans into poverty by the end of 2026,” President Mahama stated, stressing that the impact extends beyond healthcare to the broader socio-economic stability of the continent.
His comments come after the formal shutdown of USAID operations on July 1, 2025, bringing to an end more than 60 years of American-backed development assistance that supported key sectors across Africa, including healthcare, education, agriculture and governance.
