Monrovia – Nimba County District #9 Representative Taa Wongbe is calling for full transparency and public disclosure of the US–Liberia US$176 million health agreement, warning that the deal presents potential risks to Liberia’s sovereignty, data security, and legal compliance if not thoroughly scrutinized.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Rep. Wongbe welcomed the investment—comprising US$125 million in direct U.S. support and nearly US$51 million in required Liberian co-financing—but stressed that such a significant partnership must be handled with clarity, caution, and constitutional oversight.
“We warmly welcome this historic investment,” Wongbe said. “But partnership must never mean blind acceptance. Liberians deserve to know exactly what’s in this new $176 million health agreement.”
Concerns Over Data Privacy and Sovereignty
Wongbe warned that the agreement touches sensitive national areas—including digital health systems, electronic medical records, disease surveillance platforms, and health data governance—at a time when Liberia lacks a comprehensive national data protection law.
“Health data is not just numbers; it is national security, privacy, and dignity,” he noted.
The lawmaker referenced global concerns surrounding the U.S. “America First Global Health Strategy,” under which the deal falls. He pointed to fresh developments in Kenya, where a High Court on Wednesday suspended a US$1.6 billion U.S.–Kenya health agreement over data privacy and sovereignty concerns.
“That should get our attention,” Wongbe said.
He added that respected institutions—including Africa CDC, Public Citizen, Chatham House, Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute, the Center for Global Development, and the Council on Foreign Relations—have all warned that new bilateral U.S. health deals could undermine African ownership and control of health data if not properly safeguarded.
Three Key Demands
Rep. Wongbe outlined three immediate steps he believes the government must take before implementing the agreement:
Full public release of the MOU: “Liberians deserve to see the entire document—every annex, every appendix, every data-sharing clause, and any specimen-sharing arrangements if they exist.”
Temporary pause on sensitive provisions: He called for a halt to data-sharing, audit access, or system-integration clauses until a full legal review is conducted and the agreement is aligned with Liberian law.
Establishment of a national health data protection framework: Wongbe said Liberia must guarantee sovereign control over all electronic medical records, surveillance systems, and pathogen-related data before adopting any new health technologies.
Letter Sent to Foreign Ministry
The Nimba lawmaker confirmed that he is sending a formal communication to the Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting the immediate public release of the full MOU and all supporting documents.
“We can embrace this support while also demanding transparency, accountability, and strong protections for our people,” he said. “Liberia’s health system must improve, but not at the cost of our sovereignty.”
Wongbe concluded that transparency strengthens public trust and ultimately improves bilateral partnerships.
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