Ghana Rejects Multimillion-Dollar U.S Health Deal Over Data Privacy
The Ghanaian government has rejected a proposed $109 million bilateral health agreement with the United States, citing grave concerns over the mandatory sharing of sensitive national data. The decision, confirmed Tuesday by sources familiar with the negotiations, marks a significant defiance of the Trump administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy,” which seeks to overhaul international aid. President John Dramani Mahama’s administration reportedly balked at U.S. demands for access to citizens’ personal health records. Officials argued such terms compromised national data sovereignty and exposed private information. Negotiations for the five-year deal began last November but turned “hostile” as an April 24 deadline approached. Sources say U.S. negotiators applied intense pressure to secure the data-sharing provisions. The rejected funds were intended to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. This follows the recent dismantling of USAID and a shift toward requiring recipient nations to self-finance their healthcare. Ghana is the latest African nation to resist these terms. Earlier this year, Zimbabwe rejected a similar $328 million deal, while a Kenyan court recently suspended a comparable agreement. Several other African countries including Nigeria have signed the five-years health deal. These agreements are a shift in U.S. foreign aid, towards a model of shared investment, national ownership, and increased self-reliance for partner countries under the “America First Global Health Strategy.” However, Ethicists warn these “data-for-aid” swaps could be exploitative. Critics argue that without guarantees, medical innovations derived from African data might not benefit the local populations providing the information. The U.S. State Department declined to discuss specific details but maintained its commitment to the partnership. Meanwhile, Ghanaian officials have remained silent following the collapse of the high-stakes talks.
Nigeria’s private sector sees 16-month growth streak as PMI hits 53.2
LAGOS – Nigeria’s economic recovery maintained its momentum in March 2026, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 53.2 points, according to the latest report from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This marks the sixteenth consecutive month of broad-based expansion in the country’s private sector. The 53.2 reading, up from previous months, signifies a strengthening of business conditions across the federation. A PMI reading above 50.0 indicates growth, while anything below signifies contraction. The sustained expansion since late 2024 suggests a stabilizing macroeconomic environment despite lingering global pressures. Broad-Based Growth Across Subsectors The growth was notably widespread, with 31 out of the 36 surveyed subsectors reporting expansion. The industrial sector led the charge, posting a sector-specific PMI of 54.0. Within that category, 14 out of 17 subsectors—ranging from cement to food processing—recorded significant gains in production volumes and new orders. The services and agricultural sectors also remained firmly in expansionary territory. Business owners cited improved access to foreign exchange and a gradual moderation in input cost inflation as primary drivers for the increased activity. Employment and Inventory Gains Beyond output, the CBN report highlighted a “healthy” trend in the labor market. Employment levels across the surveyed firms rose for the fifth straight month, as companies scaled up operations to meet rising consumer demand. Inventory levels also climbed, suggesting that businesses are becoming more confident in future sales and are stockpiling raw materials to avoid supply chain disruptions. Outlook for 2026 Analysts suggest that the consistent PMI data aligns with the federal government’s 4.1% GDP growth projection for 2026. While the Stanbic IBTC PMI showed a slight dip earlier in the year due to cash flow constraints, the CBN’s broader survey suggests that the mid-tier and large-scale industrial sectors are now operating at their highest capacity in nearly two years. As the second quarter begins, the focus remains on whether the CBN can maintain current interest rate levels without dampening this hard-won industrial momentum.
Intra-Africa Air travel to lead global growth through 2050 — IATA
Intra-Africa air travel is projected to become the world’s fastest-growing aviation market over the next 25 years, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% through 2050. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released these figures Tuesday in its latest Long-Term Demand Outlook (LTDO), signaling a massive shift in global passenger traffic toward emerging markets. According to the report, the continent’s internal connectivity will outpace all other major regional market pairs. While total global passenger demand is expected to more than double by 2050—reaching 20.8 trillion revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs)—Africa and the Asia-Pacific region are positioned as the primary engines of this expansion. “The structural scars of the pandemic are fading, replaced by a surge in demand from developing economies,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. He noted that while North America and Europe will see steady growth, the “center of gravity” for aviation is shifting south and east. Beyond internal routes, Africa-Asia and Africa-North America corridors are also forecast for robust growth at 4.5% and 3.8% respectively. However, IATA cautioned that realizing this potential depends on aggressive infrastructure investment and the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Currently, African carriers face thin margins, with an estimated profit of just $1.30 per passenger in 2026, significantly below the global average of $7.90. The report also emphasized that the industry’s “Net Zero 2050” goal remains a critical constraint. Future growth is tied to the rapid scaling of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and regional regulatory alignment to lower operational costs across the continent. By 2050, the global aviation industry is expected to support nearly 10 billion annual passenger journeys, with Africa playing a disproportionately larger role in that volume than it does today.
