Mahama commits $50million to boost Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing drive
President John Dramani Mahama has committed $50 million to fast-track Ghana’s vaccine research, production, and capacity-building agenda, positioning the country as a future hub for pharmaceutical innovation in Africa.
He made the announcement at the Ghana Vaccine Manufacturing Investment Forum in Accra, organised by the Ministry of Health through the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), in partnership with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the PharmaVax Ghana programme.
The gathering drew more than 200 stakeholders, including policymakers, global health institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and development partners.
President Mahama said the new allocation will serve as seed funding for the NVI and will be directed toward building modern vaccine infrastructure, meeting international regulatory standards, and training scientists and technicians under the Biomanufacturing Training Consortium.
“This is about job creation, technology transfer, dignity, and self-reliance. Ghana is ready for business, ready for partners, and ready for co-creators,” he declared.
Procurement and Market Access
The President directed that reforms be implemented within two months to ensure locally produced pharmaceuticals are prioritised in public procurement. A definitive list of such products will be developed to guide ministries, departments, and agencies. He also pledged support to help Ghanaian producers access regional markets and participate in the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM).
Financing and Partnerships
To address the financing gap, the government announced de-risking guarantees and special instruments to improve access to Afreximbank loans for local companies such as Atlantic Lifesciences and DEK Vaccines. Afreximbank, in turn, unveiled new funding for both firms and the creation of the African Life Sciences Foundation Fund to back research into diseases affecting African populations.
Ghana’s Pharma Hub Vision
The government’s broader strategy to transform Ghana into a pharmaceutical hub rests on three pillars: heavy investment in infrastructure, development of skilled human capital, and robust policy backed by strong partnerships.
The Forum built on the momentum of the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, hosted a day earlier by President Mahama, which launched the SUSTAIN Initiative to drive country-led health systems rooted in local ownership, regional cooperation, and global collaboration.
Among the high-level participants were the Minister of Health, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Deputy Minister of Finance, the leadership of the NVI, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, the World Health Organization, Africa CDC, CEPI, AMA, IVI, the Ghana FDA, leading universities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, commercial banks, and development financiers, including the World Bank and DEG.
With the new funding, Ghana is taking bold steps to secure its place in Africa’s vaccine future, turning ambition into infrastructure, capacity, and jobs.