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During a overcast afternoon in a district of Ghana’s capital, a gathering including officials, envoys, aid representatives, and press gathered upon a learning space where pupils sit around desks playing with plastic bottle tops.

This remedial program for youth not in formal education, aged eight and 16, is run by a Ghanaian project mostly funded by the UK government. The focus stems from a tour by a senior UK minister assessing the effects of reduced aid funding.

Accompanying her is Ghana’s education minister. “I want to thank the British government for its continuous support in our schools,” he remarks. “We are deeply worried about declining international development assistance to Africa and to Ghana. It does have implications.”

He comments about missed chances for the children and how the local authorities has had to fill the gap left by shrinking external funding. The UK official listens calmly, maintaining a polite expression and acknowledging quietly.

The minister was named after the British announcement to cut the overseas assistance from half a percent of gross national income to 0.3 percent, marking a record low in percentage terms. This represented a shift from earlier pledges to helping the most vulnerable populations.

The former official stepped down in protest, stating that the reductions would damage the UK’s reputation and remove critical support from those in need. Half a year later, the new appointee is overseeing the implementation of these changes.

But she rejects her position as challenging, rather seeing it as an opportunity to reshape development strategies. On her visit to Ghana, she stated, “This is the most rewarding job in government. We can achieve much and make a difference for the improvement.”

Based on recent data, the continent is the biggest recipient of UK aid, getting nearly £1.5bn. Total ODA expenditure decreased by over a billion pounds from the previous year, with a significant portion spent on refugees within the UK.

Support to Ghana has likewise reduced significantly in the past few years, falling from £47.1m in five years ago to £13.9m in 2023.

[The withdrawal will inevitably put a lot of pressure on our government

Certain regions and crises, including Sudan, Ukraine, and the Middle East, will still get guaranteed aid. Moreover, the UK has pledged support to global bodies with a strong history of impact, including the health initiative and Gavi.

Yet, news has surfaced of specific programs being axed, such as financial support for environmental adjustments in a southern African country and schooling schemes in South Asia.

“We will have fewer resources to spend on conventional programming,” the official admits. “This is a reality confronted by many nations today. There is increasing strain on these funds.”

Opposition of the reductions is broad. A new report warns that the cuts will have a severe impact on women and girls and suggest that the UK is withdrawing from international leadership at a critical time.

When asked about broken election promises, the official replied, “I disagree we have damaged our reputation. Those who think that have a narrow view of what global aid should be.”

She acknowledges she wishes there was additional money available but stresses that countries today desire greater control over their development.

The leader of Ghana has earlier stated that Africa does not need sympathy or foreign aid, but rather a fair chance to do business with the global community. This view is echoed by several officials on the continent.

The official’s visit in Ghana aimed to showcase successes such as a tax partnership between UK and Ghanaian authorities, which has generated an extra £100m each year. Personnel from other African countries have visited Ghana to study from the initiative.

Additional visited sites included a biotechnology firm developing snake venom anti-serum and a medical center supported by the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tropical illness, and TB.

However, while contagious illnesses persist, the primary medical issues in Ghana and throughout Africa are now non-communicable diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. A local health official commented that these conditions have surpassed traditional health threats and that funding cuts will increase the strain on government resources.

Outside the school, the education minister voiced similar worries, decrying the funding reductions but expressing gratitude for the partnership with the UK. When asked about the future financial outlook, he said, “We will cope.”

The British official then proceeded to further meetings and a evening meal before retiring to a luxurious accommodation in central Accra.