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During a cloudy afternoon in a district of Ghana’s capital, a crowd comprising officials, envoys, aid representatives, and press has descended upon a classroom where students sit around desks engaging with recycled materials.

This catch-up class for out-of-school children, aged eight and 16, is run by a local initiative mostly funded by the British government. The focus stems from a tour by a British development official reviewing the effects of reduced assistance funding.

Joining her is Ghana’s top education official. “I want to thank the British government for its ongoing investment in our schools,” he states. “We are deeply worried about declining international development assistance to the continent and to Ghana. It does have consequences.”

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

The official was appointed after the UK’s announcement to reduce the overseas assistance from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%, marking a historic low in share terms. This represented a shift from earlier commitments to helping the world’s poorest populations.

The former official resigned in objection, saying that the cuts would damage the UK’s reputation and take away essential resources from those in need. Half a year later, the new appointee is managing the roll-out of these changes.

But she rejects her position as challenging, rather seeing it as an chance to reshape development strategies. On her trip to Ghana, she commented, “This is the most rewarding job in public service. We can achieve much and make a difference for the better.”

Based on recent data, the continent is the biggest recipient of UK aid, getting nearly 1.5 billion pounds. Overall official development assistance spending fell by over £1bn from the previous year, with a significant portion spent on refugees within the UK.

Funding to Ghana has also declined significantly in recent years, falling from £47.1m in 2019 to £13.9m in last year.

Reduction] in support will now put a lot of burden on our authorities

Some areas and crises, such as Sudan, Eastern Europe, and Gaza, will continue to receive protected funding. Moreover, the UK has committed resources to global bodies with a proven history of results, including the Global Fund and vaccine alliance.

Yet, news has surfaced of individual projects being axed, such as financial support for environmental adjustments in a southern African country and schooling initiatives in Pakistan.

“We will have less money to spend on conventional aid projects,” the minister concedes. “That is a reality confronted by numerous nations today. There is growing strain on these budgets.”

Criticism of the cuts is widespread. A new report states that the changes will have a severe impact on female populations and indicate that the UK is withdrawing from global engagement at a pivotal time.

When questioned about unfulfilled manifesto pledges, the official responded, “I disagree we have damaged our standing. Those who believe that have a limited view of what international development should be.”

She acknowledges she wishes there was more money to use but stresses that countries now want greater autonomy over their progress.

The president of Ghana has previously said that the continent does not need sympathy or development assistance, but rather a fair chance to do business with the rest of the world. This perspective is echoed by several African leaders.

The minister’s tour in Ghana aimed to showcase successes such as a tax partnership between UK and Ghanaian agencies, which has generated an additional £100m each year. Personnel from other nations have visited Ghana to learn from the initiative.

Other visited locations featured a life sciences firm producing snake venom anti-serum and a hospital supported by the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tropical illness, and tuberculosis.

Yet, although infectious diseases remain, the primary health challenges in Ghana and across Africa are now NCDs like blood sugar conditions and high blood pressure. A medical director noted that these conditions have surpassed traditional health threats and that aid withdrawal will increase the burden on national budgets.

Outside the school, the education minister expressed similar concerns, criticizing the aid cuts but thanking the partnership with the UK. In response about the future financial situation, he stated, “We will cope.”

The UK minister afterward continued to additional engagements and a evening meal before heading to a luxurious accommodation in downtown Accra.