Ghana to roll out HIV preventive drug in 2026, targets local production by 2027
The Ghana AIDS Commission has unveiled plans to introduce an HIV preventive drug in 2026, marking a major step in the country’s fight against the virus, which saw more than 15,000 new infections last year.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, September 30, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Prosper Akanbong, said the initiative is designed not only to strengthen HIV prevention but also to develop local pharmaceutical capacity.
“As a country, we have already put the vaccine as a main component of our HIV prevention programme. Initially, we will secure it from outside, but with the pharmacy organisations that you see here, they have positioned themselves to be able to produce the vaccines locally,” Dr. Akanbong explained.
He revealed that talks with pharmaceutical firms are already underway, with technical and financial support from the German development agency, GIZ, to ensure a reliable supply chain.
“Together with GIZ, we are on track, and in the latter part of 2026 or the early part of 2027, we should be able to produce vaccines for Ghana,” he added.
The Commission says the preventive drug will serve as a critical tool in halting new infections, while the push for local production is expected to reduce dependency on external supply and strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.