Ghana’s quest to attain vaccine self-sufficiency by 2030 has received a major boost with the launch of the “Vax and Pharm” project in Accra yesterday.

The one-million-euro European Union (EU)-funded project seeks to strengthen local pharmaceutical and vaccine production to enhance Ghana’s health security over the next two years.

The initiative will primarily bolster research and development, create an enabling environment for vaccine and drug production, and ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to guarantee safety and efficiency.

Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the EU, the “Vax and Pharm” project is expected to ultimately promote equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable medicines and vaccines for all Ghanaians.

Launching the initiative, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in a speech read on his behalf, underscored the timeliness of the project in accelerating Ghana’s efforts to become self-reliant in the production of essential medicines.

He said Ghana currently imports more than 70 per cent of its medicines and 99 per cent of the vaccines used in health facilities across the country.

According to the Minister, lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgency of building self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical and vaccine production.

“Health security cannot be outsourced. Access to essential medicines and vaccines must not depend on global supply chains or the goodwill of others. Today, Ghana takes a decisive step toward building our own capacity. This project, undertaken with the WHO and the EU under the Team Europe initiative, is designed to transform Ghana’s pharmaceutical landscape,” he said.

“It aligns perfectly with our government’s priorities of operationalising our commitment to UHC, strengthening primary health care, creating sustainable employment for our youth, and driving universalization and advancing our vision of a self-reliant Ghana,” Mr Akandoh added.

 

The WHO Country Representative, Dr Fiona Braka, described the initiative as a “defining moment” for Ghana and the African region, noting that Africa currently produces only 0.1 per cent of its vaccine needs despite accounting for a quarter of global demand.