BY GRACE ZIGAH
President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish a vaccine production hub in Ghana, signalling a renewed push to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry, reduce dependence on imported medical products and improve preparedness for future public health emergencies.
The proposed initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand domestic manufacturing capacity, create employment opportunities and position Ghana as a potential pharmaceutical production centre for the African continent.
President Mahama disclosed the plans during a courtesy call by chiefs from the Western North Region, where he stressed the importance of investing in local vaccine and medicine production to protect Ghana from the supply challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have learnt a lesson, and we want to produce our own vaccines and medicines,” the President said.
His announcement reflects growing concerns about Africa’s dependence on foreign manufacturers for essential medicines and vaccines, particularly during global health emergencies when demand rises sharply and countries compete for limited supplies.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in global vaccine distribution, with many African countries struggling to secure sufficient supplies during the early stages of vaccination programmes.
While wealthier countries secured large quantities of vaccines, several African nations faced delays in accessing doses, prompting renewed calls for the continent to develop its own manufacturing capacity.
President Mahama recalled the difficulties Africa encountered during the pandemic, arguing that the experience demonstrated the risks of relying heavily on external suppliers for essential medical products.
“We learnt a lesson from COVID-19. When vaccines became available, Africa was placed at the end of the queue. Everybody received vaccines before us,” he said.
He warned that the consequences could have been considerably worse if the continent had experienced more severe health impacts before vaccines became widely available.
“If God had not given us immunity that prevented COVID-19 from affecting us severely, the whole of Africa could have been wiped out before even one vaccine arrived here,” he stated.
However, establishing a sustainable vaccine production hub will require substantial investment, specialised technology, skilled personnel, reliable supply chains and regulatory systems capable of meeting international quality standards.
Beyond manufacturing, President Mahama linked the proposed initiative to the broader goal of achieving what his administration describes as health sovereignty.
He referenced the Accra Reset, an initiative he said was intended to strengthen Africa’s ability to determine its own health priorities, invest in its people and reduce structural dependence on external support.
“There are other issues we are working on, including the Accra Reset, which is aimed at achieving health sovereignty, investing in the health of our people and breaking the cycle of dependency,” he said.
