Ghana to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines

The European Commission has selected Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa, an official statement from the Office of the President said.

The Vice-President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, announced this in a meeting with Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in Brussels.

“At the meeting with the Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission indicated the selection of Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa,” the statement revealed.

According to the Commission, the decision follows initiatives already taken by the Ghana government towards the domestic manufacturing of vaccines.

The taskforce teams from the EU and Ghana will meet shortly to discuss modalities towards the realisation of this initiative, which, in principle, could be supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the statement added.

It was stated that the move if successful could get support from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

President, Akufo-Addo during his 24th COVID-19 address to the nation announced that the government has established a committee to formulate a concrete plan for vaccine development and manufacturing in Ghana.

Former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng was named to be Chairman of the committee.

“I want to reiterate my determination that we should manufacture vaccines here in Ghana. To this end, a committee has been established under the chairmanship of the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the world-renowned scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, which is formulating a concrete plan of action towards vaccine development and manufacturing,” said the President.