Ghana is set to receive €415,437.78 from the European Union (EU) and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to support the implementation of the PharmaVax Programme, one of the government's flagship initiatives aimed at transforming the country's pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing sector over the next four years.

It seeks to strengthen Ghana's pharmaceutical industry and reduce the country's and the wider region's dependence on imported medicines and vaccines.

In his remarks on Thursday, June 25, at a stakeholder engagement meeting in Accra, representing Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Director of Administration at the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness, Yaw Sakyi, highlighted the government’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the West African sub-region as it massively improves and transforms its pharmaceutical system.

He said, “The government is committed to making Ghana the pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the sub-region, and the pharmaceutical policy will provide the necessary implementation systems for the growth of the industry.” He added that measures are underway to create the necessary framework to drive growth in the sector.

He said the country’s pharmaceutical policy will establish the institutional framework needed to drive sustainable growth within the sector, while expressing gratitude to the European Union and the German government for their continued support.

“The country’s pharmaceutical policy will establish the institutional framework needed to drive sustainable growth within the sector, and we are grateful to the European Union and the German government for their continued support,” he added.

Adding to the engagement, the Head of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development Unit at the Ministry, Godfred Gobah, said the programme will work closely with private pharmaceutical companies and ensure Ghana takes part in more pharmaceutical conferences, exhibitions, and trade events both in Ghana and abroad to help promote the country’s local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, which will help open new export and market opportunities for Ghanaian companies.

The initiative aims to double the value of Ghana's pharmaceutical exports to ECOWAS countries by 2030, increase the share of locally manufactured medicines in the domestic market from 30% to 60%, and reduce the country's reliance on imported pharmaceutical products.

The PharmaVax Programme is anchored on four strategic priorities: strengthening governance institutions in the pharmaceutical sector, deepening collaboration between government and private industry, improving conditions for foreign direct investment and trade, and enhancing transparency in investment and regulatory approval processes.