Ghana to fully fund its own vaccines by 2030 as President Mahama announces Gavi exit

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana is gradually transitioning out of the Gavi vaccine support programme and is expected to fully finance its vaccine procurement by 2030.

Speaking at the Ghana Medical Association’s Annual National Conference at Miotso, near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, the President said the country was already financing approximately 50 per cent of its vaccine requirements.

The conference was held under the theme, “The No Bed Syndrome: Reimagining a Befitting Emergency Response System for Ghana”.

“Let me also inform you that Ghana is being weaned off the Gavi programme. By 2030, we are expected to procure our own vaccines,” he stated.

“We are currently procuring approximately 50 per cent of our vaccines, but I can assure you that we will be ready by 2030,” he added.

President Mahama said the government's efforts to expand specialised healthcare would go hand in hand with sustaining essential public health services required by communities across the country.

He noted that the 2026 Budget had made provisions for vaccines, essential medical commodities and other priority health programmes.

“We will continue to strengthen domestic financing for immunisation, HIV and AIDS care, tuberculosis and malaria services, as well as disease surveillance and laboratory capacity,” he said.

The President also acknowledged the contributions of the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi, the Global Fund and other development partners towards sustaining Ghana's health programmes.

He further stressed the need to address environmental and other factors that contribute to ill health, commending the Ghana Medical Association for its work on antimicrobial resistance and the health consequences of pollution, illegal mining and lead exposure.

He assured the medical profession that the government would continue to rely on its research, evidence and professional recommendations in shaping health policies.

According to him, primary healthcare, oral health and mental healthcare would also remain important components of the government's efforts to improve disease prevention and early treatment.

As part of the oral healthcare initiative, he said the government was considering the deployment of mobile clinics equipped with dental facilities to extend services to underserved communities.

“We will deploy dentists to move from community to community to provide dental services and attend to the oral health needs of the people,” President Mahama said.

On emergency healthcare, the President announced plans to procure 100 new ambulances to strengthen the fleet of the National Ambulance Service.

He disclosed that the Service had also indicated that another 100 ambulances currently out of operation could be restored if the necessary spare parts were provided.

“We will therefore purchase 100 new ambulances and procure the parts required to bring another 100 ambulances back into service.”

President Mahama also revealed that the government would soon conduct a feasibility study into the sewage systems of major public health facilities across the country.

He said the exercise would identify the necessary repairs and help prevent medical waste and effluents from being discharged into drains and water bodies, posing risks to public health and the environment.