Prez Akufo-Addo cuts sod for 600m vaccine units capacity facility
Ghana has taken a major step towards achieving its goal of becoming a hub for healthcare delivery within the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with the launch of a vaccine manufacturing plant in the capital, Accra. The first phase of the plant, which is estimated to cost US$122.6 million, will have the capacity to produce up to 600 million vaccine units and is expected to be fitted with state-of-the-art technology to produce malaria, human papillomavirus (HPV), pneumonia, rotavirus, and cholera vaccines.
The vaccine manufacturing plant is a partnership between the Ghanaian government and DEK Vaccines Limited, a consortium of three Ghanaian pharmaceutical firms, Danadams, Ernest Chemists, and Kinapharma. The project is also being supported by the European Union, which has provided a €5 million grant to cover project-related expenditures, initial engineering and civil works, equipment down-payments, project development, and technical assistance.
The launch of the vaccine manufacturing plant is an important milestone for Ghana and the broader African continent. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of African countries to external shocks and highlighted the importance of local capacity for vaccine production. With the launch of the vaccine manufacturing plant, Ghana is taking a major step towards achieving its goal of self-sufficiency in healthcare delivery, and is positioning itself as a key player in the fight against pandemics and childhood diseases.
The vaccine manufacturing plant is part of a broader plan to shore-up the continent’s capability to produce vaccines, with the aim of making vaccines accessible to every child born in Ghana and the West African sub-region. The second phase of the project, an expansion of the first, will incorporate vaccine manufacturing with the construction of four fill and finish lines that can fill any type of vaccine, including traditional and messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) vaccines.
The Ghanaian government has emphasised the need for local production of vaccines, which comes with both direct and indirect social economic benefits to the country. The adoption and maintenance of reliable health security infrastructure could serve as the foundation for sustainable economic growth, according to President Nana Akufo-Addo. He said that the investment in the vaccine manufacturing plant is the first of many to come in the next five years and will ensure that the country is future-ready for any pandemic and childhood diseases.
Managing Director of DEK Vaccines Limited, Pharm. Dr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, also emphasised the need for Ghana and Africa to be prepared for the next pandemic. He said that vaccine manufacturing is a technology-intensive initiative that requires huge capital and that the partnership with the government is very appropriate.
The launch of the vaccine manufacturing plant is a significant development for Ghana and the African continent, as it will help to reduce dependence on developed countries for vaccines and critical healthcare requirements. With the launch of the plant, Ghana is taking a major step towards achieving its goal of becoming the hub for healthcare delivery within the AfCFTA, and positioning itself as a leader in vaccine production and distribution in Africa.
