The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union in Ghana (EU) has officially launched the Vax & Pharm Ghana Project aimed at strengthening domestic capacity for vaccine and essential medicine production known as the Vax & Pharm-Ghana Project.

The 24-month initiative is backed by a €1 million budget and is being implemented through a partnership involving the Government of Ghana, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Union (EU). The project is expected to significantly cut Ghana’s dependence on imported pharmaceuticals.

Currently 70 percent of medicines consumed in Ghana are sourced from abroad, and the country has no local capacity for manufacturing human vaccines. The new initiative aligns with Ghana’s 10-year vaccine manufacturing agenda, which seeks to boost health security, expand pharmaceutical production, and advance progress toward Universal Health Coverage and the UN Sustainable Development Goal on good health and well-being.

Speaking at the launch, WHO Country Representative Dr. Fiona Braka described the project as a pivotal moment for both Ghana and the African continent. She highlighted the imbalance between Africa’s vaccine needs and its production levels, noting that although the continent accounts for a quarter of global vaccine demand, it currently produces just 0.1 percent. She emphasized that such dependency “cannot continue,” commending Ghana for taking steps that support the WHO’s regional strategy to strengthen local manufacturing and regulatory systems.

The European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment through the Team Europe Initiative, which is offering financial and technical assistance to help African countries reach their goal of producing 60 percent of their vaccines locally by 2040. He explained that since 2021, Team Europe has increased its support for Ghana’s pharmaceutical and vaccine sector from €3 million—initially focused on strengthening the Food and Drugs Authority—to nearly €50 million, broadening assistance to include the wider ecosystem needed for pharmaceutical and health technology development.

Acting Chief Executive of the National Vaccine Institute, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, said the Vax & Pharm-Ghana Project represents a milestone in Ghana’s push for greater self-sufficiency, enhanced preparedness for health threats, and the development of a competitive pharmaceutical industry capable of serving both national and regional markets.