By Rachel Marty

In the current political climate, the need for honest and good-intentioned global communicators is higher than ever. The Trump administration recently shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) after canceling 83% of its programs earlier this year. According to a recent study, USAID-funded programs are said to have significantly contributed to the reduction in adult and child mortality, saving over 90 million lives in the past two decades.

Researchers warn that unless the funding cuts are reversed, an estimated 14 million lives could be lost to preventable causes by 2030. This is an incomprehensible number of lives that would be sacrificed. Global communicators play a vital role in telling the story of those who suffer from this decision. The Trump administration claims that the program “objectives have rarely been met” and cites a waste of taxpayer dollars as the reason for the cuts. But the gap that pulling USAID leaves in humanitarian work speaks for itself.

The decisions made by one of the world’s most prominent political powers undoubtedly have wide-reaching and long-lasting effects that extend well beyond the US border. Annually, the US provides $150 million in aid to Ghana, and was previously described as the nation’s largest development partner. As resources dwindle due to defunding, brave communicators are needed to share the deadly repercussions.

Next week, I will begin working at the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights, a network of Ghanaian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) promoting a rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health. The group strives to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) systems while concurrently helping individuals avoid financial hardship. These are people fighting for access to healthcare, dignity, and basic human rights. I’m eager to apply my multimedia and strategic communication skills to help share the stories of advocates supporting communities, especially when access to essential, lifesaving resources is being threatened.

I feel this work is deeply important. As a communicator, I will work with local voices to make their stories and struggles visible. This work aims to shift attention toward lived realities, steering it away from misinformation and isolationism. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute as a communicator in a space where storytelling can drive awareness and hopefully change.