Mida Pledges Alignment With US Strategic Shift On Millennium Challenge Corporation
Ghana’s Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has endorsed Washington’s renewed use of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as a tool to advance US strategic priorities, signalling Accra’s willingness to align with the Trump administration’s emphasis on investment returns and strict implementation timelines.
The MCC board of directors met in Washington last week to select new partner countries and review its global portfolio. Christopher Landau, US deputy secretary of state and acting board chair, said the agency’s mandate fits squarely into the White House’s “America First” foreign policy. “MCC ensures US taxpayer dollars advance US interests,” he said, citing the corporation’s evidence-based approach and five-year funding horizon.
In a statement responding to the board meeting, MiDA’s chief executive said Ghana would adapt its strategy to reflect MCC’s sharpened focus. “MiDA will implement MCC projects that focus on return on investment, an evidence-based approach, and a strict five-year implementation timeline,” he said, stressing Ghana’s commitment to the partnership.
The move marks an effort to rebuild trust after a major setback in 2019, when Ghana lost access to $190mn in funding under the MCC Power Compact. The second tranche was suspended after the collapse of a 20-year concession agreement with Power Distribution Services (PDS), designed to bring private participation into the Electricity Company of Ghana. The US deemed the arrangement non-credible, dealing a blow to Accra’s power-sector reform agenda.
MiDA, which was responsible for managing the Power Compact, now insists that the groundwork laid still holds value. “Ghana remains committed to transparency, private sector involvement, and delivering results that align with MCC’s standards,” the agency’s head noted.
As the MCC sharpens its global role, MiDA is positioning itself as a dependable partner, keen both to advance Ghana’s development priorities and to support Washington’s strategic aims abroad.
