Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says Ghana is now strategically positioned to manufacture its own vaccines following the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute.
He said Ghana’s local pharmaceutical industry has also taken the lead in advancing domestic vaccine production.
Speaking at a press conference at the Presidency in Accra, during a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), Mr. Akandoh stressed the need for vaccine self-sufficiency.
“As we all recall during the pandemic, there were countries that looked us in the eye and said they would not allow the export of vaccines until they had satisfied their own citizens. We must learn from that experience and prepare adequately for future pandemics,” he said.
He noted that Ghana must also scale up its primary healthcare system as the government rolls out the free primary healthcare policy. He emphasized the need for collaboration to sustain initiatives like the Mahama Cares programme, which could serve as a model for other African nations.
Mr. Akandoh warned that donor support is dwindling, and Ghana will exit the Gavi alliance by 2030. “We need sustainable ways of financing our vaccines. This is one area where collaboration with Africa-CDC is crucial,” he added.
Dr. Kaseya is in the country to sign a data-sharing agreement between Ghana and Africa-CDC. Mr. Akandoh noted that the visit aligns with President Mahama’s priority to build a robust healthcare system capable of responding to pandemics and ensuring national health security.
He revealed that Ghana had received about $2.4 million from Africa-CDC to strengthen its primary healthcare system and has trained about 400 epidemiologists with support from the organization, raising $400,000 for the training.
Additionally, Africa-CDC has supported Ghana in raising $1.6 million for the procurement and delivery of IT and coaching equipment.
The minister said Ghana plays a vital role in health across Africa. “The School of Public Health at the University of Ghana now serves as a sub-regional centre for training epidemiologists,” he said.
He also praised the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), which he said is at the maturity level required to play a vital role in promoting continental health security.
According to Mr. Akandoh, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains one of the strongest health financing mechanisms in the sub-region, with other countries learning from Ghana’s example.
He reiterated President Mahama’s commitment to rolling out the Free Primary Healthcare policy, which he believes will accelerate Ghana’s achievement of Universal Health Coverage.
He also highlighted the establishment of the Mahama Cares (Ghana Medical Trust Fund), aimed at easing the financial burden of people living with chronic non-communicable diseases.
Dr. Jean Kaseya praised President Mahama’s leadership in transforming Ghana’s health sector.
“I’m so impressed, so impressed by President Mahama. This is why I told him I would come to visit you in Ghana, and I want the media to say that someone from the African Union, someone who leads health in Africa, is impressed by what Ghana is doing,” Dr. Kaseya said.
He reaffirmed the African Union and Africa-CDC’s commitment to supporting Ghana and sharing its success story across the continent.
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