Private legal practitioner and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has raised strong concerns regarding foreign interest in Ghana’s sovereign health data, warning that persistent external pressures could eventually compromise the nation’s health sector.
Reaction from the legal practitioner follows recent remarks made by President John Dramani Mahama regarding a proposed health sovereignty agreement with the United States. Whilst acknowledging the government for declining the terms, Barker-Vormawor expressed deep unease about the long-term geopolitical and technological risks facing the country.
Reflecting on the stance taken by the administration, he admitted to watching the President’s commentary with “some stomach churning annoyance”.
“Kudos to the Government for rejecting it. But if I know anything about the US; they won’t stop pushing this deal or some other camouflaged version of it,” he stated.
According to him, diplomatic rejection does not guarantee an end to foreign interest, as persistent global powers often shift strategy to achieve their aims over time.
“If this Government doesn’t sign it, they will target the next. If one political party says no, they will wait for the next,” he warned.
Barker-Vormawor further cautioned that if direct bilateral agreements fail, foreign interests could attempt to bypass national policy through commercial channels, single-sourced contracts, or public-private digital partnerships.
“If this country to country deal doesn’t work, they will come back as health solutions company offering services that some minister will single handedly contract out under some sole sourcing arrangement. Or they will convince us that we need some US Government controlled AI software will revolutionise our Health care solutions,” he added.
Addressing potential safeguards, the legal practitioner suggested statutory measures to shield domestic health information from international entities, whilst remaining skeptical about the permanence of legal protections given political shifts.
“I would propose that we actually pass legislation that expressly forbids Ghana from sharing critical health data with foreign countries or companies. But one legislation can be amended by the next,” he explained.
Concluding his statement, Barker-Vormawor expressed concern over systemic vulnerabilities and the ability of domestic leaders to safeguard the state over successive administrations.
“I’m torn! Empire lays traps for us all around! Yet, our politicians cannot be trusted to hold the fort long term. How sad. Shalom,” he wrote.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana