“Professor Hanke criticizes allocation of $100 million security aid to Ghana and other countries citing corruption concerns

On March 28, 2023, the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, announced a $100 million security assistance to five West African countries, including Ghana, Benin, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. The aid is aimed at supporting conflict prevention and stabilization efforts in the coastal region of West Africa.

However, Steve Hanke, a Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University, expressed concerns about the security assistance in a tweet on March 29. Hanke suggested that the funds will be squandered, citing the low corruption perception index of the recipient countries, which averages around 35 out of 100.

Harris, on the other hand, emphasized the critical role that African nations, including Ghana, play in global security, and noted that the aid is meant to support conflict prevention and stabilization efforts in the region