Northern Ghana CSOs scramble for funds after USAID halt

Following the U.S. government’s issuance of a stop-work order on USAID funding, civil society organizations (CSOs) in the northern region have come together to assess its impact on communities, share their experiences, and explore alternative funding opportunities.

This gathering serves as a platform to highlight their resilience and innovative responses to the challenges posed by the funding halt, with a particular focus on the way forward.

CSOs are facing uncertainty, fearing that the progress they have made could be reversed due to the abrupt funding suspension. Stakeholders worry that without immediate intervention, the gains achieved so far may be lost.

The directive to suspend all USAID funding has left many organizations in turmoil, leading to job losses and disruptions in critical development programs. The stop-work order follows concerns about excessive spending that, according to U.S. authorities, does not align with the interests of the American people.

Nearly three weeks into the suspension, CSOs in the region remain uncertain about what will happen after the 90-day review period.

Speaking to the Executive Director of Norsaac, Mohammed Awal Alhassan, emphasized that northern Ghana has been the largest beneficiary of USAID funding—amounting to over $200 million.

He stressed the urgent need for intervention to prevent further widening of the development gap between the northern and southern regions.
“With this type of challenge, there will be a need for the sector to be given attention, to look at how to mobilize resources to fill the gap. Otherwise, we will widen the gap that currently exists between the north and south, and I think it is not something that we want to see.”

Some CSOs attributed the current funding freeze to the previous administration’s “Ghana Beyond Aid” policy, arguing that public declarations should be backed by concrete policy actions. They urged the government to focus on achieving tangible results rather than making broad policy statements.

Hardi Tijani expressed concerns that USAID funding might not return to its previous form, potentially having a long-term impact on Ghana’s ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“The USAID will not come back the same. Countries, including Ghana, need to include their civil society to come together and work towards reorganizing and also looking at the development trajectory generally and how to reallocate resources to areas that they are not doing so well with so that we can meet the target of the country in terms of the SDG goals set.”

Despite these challenges, CSOs have commended the president for engaging with the finance minister on the issue. However, they are also looking at alternative funding sources. If USAID does not resume its support after 90 days, they hope to collaborate in mobilizing resources from other donors to sustain stalled projects.