The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union in Ghana (EU), has officially launched the Vax & Pharm Ghana Project titled "Strengthening Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals Production in Ghana'.

The Vax & Pharm Ghana Project aligns with Ghana’s 10-year National Vaccine Manufacturing Roadmap and the broader African Union goal of producing 60% of the continent’s vaccines locally by 2040.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Desmond Boateng, emphasised that Ghana currently imports more than 70% of its medicines and 99% of its vaccines used in its facilities, which underscores 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,” he stated.

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

She reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Ghana with technical expertise, technology transfer, regulatory strengthening, and global best practices to ensure that local production meets international quality standards.

The European Union in Ghana (EU), represented by Timothy Nolan, reiterated the EU’s strong partnership with Ghana, emphasising Team Europe’s €2 billion commitment across Africa to support vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The EU praised Ghana’s leadership and expressed confidence in the country’s potential to become a regional pharmaceutical hub. The Ministry of Health acknowledged the critical roles of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the National Vaccine Institute, and the private sector in driving the success of this initiative.

The ceremony brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, representatives from the European Union, Representatives from the WHO, representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Directors General and Chief Executive Officers, and Development partners