Never Again: Mahama Pushes for Local Vaccine Manufacturing After COVID‑19

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish a vaccine production hub in Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry and reduce dependence on imported medical products.

He said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to expand local manufacturing, create jobs and position Ghana as a centre for pharmaceutical production.

President Mahama noted that the COVID‑19 pandemic exposed Africa’s vulnerability and highlighted the urgent need to build local capacity for vaccine and medicine production.

Speaking during a courtesy call by chiefs from the Western North Region, he said,

“We have learnt a lesson, and we want to produce our own vaccines and medicines.”

He added that the government was championing initiatives aimed at investing in the health of Ghanaians and breaking the cycle of dependency.

“There are other issues we are working on, including the Accra Reset, which is aimed at achieving health sovereignty, investing in the health of our people and breaking the cycle of dependency.”

President Mahama said Africa’s experience during the pandemic demonstrated the risks of relying heavily on other countries for essential medical supplies.

“We learnt a lesson from COVID‑19. When vaccines became available, Africa was placed at the end of the queue. Everybody received vaccines before us.”

He warned that the continent could have faced a far more devastating situation if COVID‑19 had affected Africans more severely before vaccines became available.

“If God had not given us immunity that prevented COVID‑19 from affecting us severely, the whole of Africa could have been wiped out before even one vaccine arrived here.”

President Mahama said the government remained committed to strengthening local capacity and enabling Ghana—and the wider African continent—to respond more effectively to future public health emergencies.

The proposed drive toward local vaccine and medicine production forms part of broader efforts to improve health sovereignty, strengthen the pharmaceutical sector and reduce dependence on imported medical products.