GHPAC Mobilizes African Diaspora on Capitol Hill & Urges Action to Stop Disruption to PEPFAR and Global Security
Summary
The lapse in reauthorization places this legacy — and countless lives — at risk.“As a community deeply rooted in both the United States and Africa, we are gravely concerned by the potential erosion of trust between the U.S. and its key allies,” said Adjoa Kyerematen, President and CEO of GHPAC. “Undermining PEPFAR at this critical juncture sends the wrong message to our allies and opens the door to destabilizing actors who do not share Americas values of democracy, transparency, and human rights.”Ghana, a strategic U.S. partner and a pillar of democratic governance in West Africa, is sounding the alarm. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama recently lamented that Ghana may be forced to form “new bridges” with other geopolitical powers to prevent catastrophic loss of life due to the abrupt end to critical programs, including failure to fulfill the PEPFAR commitment through 2030 — now just five years away. The halt in PEPFAR funding has severely impacted services including reducing Mother to Child Transmission.This shift could have dangerous implications, not only for health outcomes but also for U.S. influence in a region increasingly targeted by anti-Western forces. Secretary Rubio has expressed desire to protect the PEPFAR program and executed a limited waiver to restart critical HIV services, including antiretroviral treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmissions.