Ghana has been ruled ineligible to receive foreign assistance from the United States under the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) for the 2026 financial year.
The restriction arises from Section 7012 of the FY 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (SFOAA), which bars countries in debt default from accessing such aid, until a restructuring agreement is reached.
The development was outlined in the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) Candidate Country Report for FY 2026.
The report confirmed that while Ghana is among 18 countries considered as candidate nations for MCC assistance, it remains excluded due to legal prohibitions on U.S. economic aid as of August 6, 2025. Alongside Ghana, other ineligible states include Burma, Burkina Faso, North Korea, Syria, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. The MCC noted that future statutory restrictions, evolving country circumstances, or new determinations could influence eligibility in subsequent years.