The new CEO of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, has pledged the NVI’s continued support to various research institutions in Ghana aimed at building their capacity to support the country’s efforts to locally manufacture vaccines.

Addressing a delegation from the German Embassy, the European Union (EU), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Charité Medical Center in Berlin, Germany, he emphasised the need for advanced training frameworks in virology and immunology to bolster vaccine research and production, moving beyond the initial focus on viral diagnostics.

The delegation paid a courtesy call on Dr Sodzi-Tettey at his office at the NVI on Monday, March 24, 2025.

During the meeting, Dr Sodzi-Tettey praised the ongoing research collaboration between Charité Medical Center in Berlin and the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR).

This partnership has been in place long before the establishment of the NVI.

Now, Dr Sodzi-Tettey is working to integrate this collaboration into the broader vaccine research and development ecosystem.

By aligning their work with national and international R&D initiatives, Dr Sodzi-Tettey’s goal is to enhance the efficiency and impact of vaccine innovation and production.

“Africa’s almost total reliance on imported vaccines has left us highly vulnerable in times of global health crises. This is the reason why, under the leadership of the Africa CDC, member states have committed to producing at least 60% of continental vaccine requirements locally by 2040.

"This R&D Hub will help to equip Ghana with the capacity to research new candidate vaccines locally and ultimately develop them, as part of the government’s efforts to secure the health of the population,” Dr Sodzi-Tettey said.

Prof Christian Drosten, head of virology at Charité Medical Center, who was part of the delegation, announced plans to expand the research hub at KCCR.

This expansion includes the establishment of basic immunological and virological laboratory methods, training of junior scientists at the master’s and doctoral levels, and support for local manufacturing companies.

Overall, these efforts aim to create a robust R&D hub to strengthen Ghana’s vaccine research, production, and pandemic preparedness and response.

Key objectives include:

• Establishing virological and immunological laboratory methods for vaccine research and quality control.

• Training the first cohort of junior scientists at the master’s and doctoral levels to build a future-proof research ecosystem.

• Expanding North-South and South-South cooperation in technology transfer and resource-sharing.

• Collaborating with local pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the transition from basic research to vaccine production.

During the meeting, Prof Drosten shared a cost-effective model for training junior scientists at the master’s and doctoral levels in Ghana, rather than sending them to Germany.

Dr Sodzi-Tettey agreed, noting that this model offered the NVI an opportunity to seek the necessary resources to expand national research capacity and train more scientists in vaccine research and development beyond the current scope of the Charité-KCCR partnership.

Daniel Boehme, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy; Timothy Dolan, Team Leader of the Economic, Private Sector, and Trade Section of the EU delegation in Ghana; and Prof Drosten all expressed support for the R&D hub, noting that it aligns with the broader objectives of their partnerships with Ghana.

Timothy Dolan, on behalf of the EU, also outlined the EU’s broader support for the pharmaceutical industry in Ghana and the NVI, with both he and Dr Sodzi-Tettey pledging ongoing collaboration.

Through its Center for Global Health, which is also headed by Prof Drosten, Charité has organized a series of seminars focused on enhancing vaccine uptake and production on the continent.

GA/MA

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