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On a cloudy afternoon in a suburb of Ghana’s capital, a gathering comprising officials, envoys, aid representatives, and media has descended upon a learning space where pupils are seated around desks playing with plastic bottle tops.

This remedial program for out-of-school children, between eight and 16, is run by a local initiative largely supported by the British government. The attention stems from a visit by a British development official assessing the effects of diminished assistance funding.

Accompanying her is the nation’s education minister. “We appreciate the UK for its ongoing investment in Ghana’s education,” he remarks. “We are particularly concerned about falling foreign aid to the continent and to Ghana. It will have implications.”

He speaks about lost opportunities for the youngsters and how the local authorities has had to fill the shortage left by decreasing external funding. The visiting minister listens attentively, keeping a slight smile and gently nodding.

The official was appointed after the UK’s announcement to cut the aid budget from half a percent of GNI to 0.3 percent, marking a record reduction in share terms. This was a reversal from earlier pledges to helping the world’s poorest populations.

The previous minister stepped down in protest, stating that the reductions would harm the UK’s reputation and remove essential resources from needy communities. Half a year later, the new appointee is managing the roll-out of these changes.

But she does not view her role as difficult, instead seeing it as an chance to reshape aid approaches. During her trip to Ghana, she stated, “This is the most rewarding job in government. We can do a huge amount and change things for the better.”

Based on recent data, the continent is the biggest recipient of UK aid, getting nearly £1.5bn. Total ODA expenditure fell by more than £1bn from the previous year, with a substantial portion spent on refugees within the UK.

Funding to Ghana has likewise declined sharply in the past few years, falling from 47 million pounds in five years ago to under 14 million pounds in last year.

Reduction] in aid will now put a significant burden on our government

Certain areas and crises, such as African nations, Eastern Europe, and Gaza, will continue to get guaranteed aid. Moreover, the UK has committed support to international bodies with a proven record of results, including the health initiative and vaccine alliance.

Yet, reports has emerged of individual projects being cut, such as cash handouts for climate adaptation in Malawi and schooling initiatives in Pakistan.

“We will have less money to spend on traditional aid projects,” the official concedes. “That is a fact faced by numerous countries now. There is increasing strain on these funds.”

Criticism of the cuts is widespread. A new report states that the changes will have a devastating effect on female populations and suggest that the UK is stepping back from international engagement at a critical time.

When questioned about broken election promises, the official replied, “I don’t think we have damaged our reputation. Those who think that have a limited view of what international development entails.”

She acknowledges she would prefer there was additional funding available but emphasizes that countries today want greater autonomy over their progress.

The leader of Ghana has earlier said that the continent does not need pity or development assistance, but rather a equal opportunity to do business with the rest of the world. This view is echoed by other African leaders.

The official’s tour in Ghana aimed to showcase achievements such as a tax partnership between UK and Ghanaian authorities, which has generated an extra £100m each year. Staff from other nations have visited Ghana to learn from the project.

Other visited locations featured a life sciences firm producing snake venom anti-serum and a medical center backed by the health organization to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

However, although infectious diseases remain, the primary medical issues in Ghana and throughout Africa are now NCDs like blood sugar conditions and high blood pressure. A local health official commented that NCDs have overtaken infectious diseases and that funding cuts will increase the burden on national budgets.

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

The British official afterward continued to further engagements and a dinner before retiring to a high-end hotel in downtown Accra.