BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
Government targets increased local drug production, fresh investment and pharmaceutical exports as industry players warn that the country’s medicine import bill has risen from about $250 million to more than $750 million in a decade.
Ghana has launched a new Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy aimed at strengthening domestic drug production, attracting investment into the pharmaceutical industry and reducing the country’s dependence on imported medicines.
The policy is also intended to position Ghana as a pharmaceutical manufacturing and export hub for West Africa, creating opportunities for local companies to expand production, improve competitiveness and access regional markets.
The launch brings renewed attention to the pharmaceutical industry, which faces the challenge of meeting domestic demand while competing with imported medicines. Industry stakeholders believe that strengthening local manufacturing could improve the country’s capacity to supply essential medicines and reduce its vulnerability to disruptions in international supply chains.
However, the success of the initiative will depend on how effectively the policy is implemented and whether the government can create the conditions needed for local manufacturers to expand their operations.
Government Targets Factories, Jobs and Pharmaceutical Exports
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said the policy would provide a framework for accelerating investment, expanding local manufacturing and improving the competitiveness of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies.
She stressed that the government’s responsibility was to translate its commitment to industrial development into tangible outcomes, including new factories, locally manufactured products, export opportunities and employment.
“With this clear direction from the head of state, my ministry’s responsibility is to translate that commitment into factories, products, exports and jobs,” she said.
According to the minister, the policy provides a framework for promoting local production and strengthening the industry’s ability to compete in domestic and international markets.
She said the government’s vision was to establish Ghana as a pharmaceutical manufacturing centre capable of supplying safe, quality and affordable medicines to the local population while serving the wider West African market.
The initiative could create opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to expand their production capacity and develop stronger supply chains, provided the policy’s objectives are backed by effective implementation.
Pharmaceutical Imports Rise Above $750m
One of the key concerns highlighted during the launch was Ghana’s continued reliance on imported medicines and the increase in the value of pharmaceutical imports over the past decade.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (GPMA), the association’s Executive Secretary, Dr Lucia Addae, welcomed the policy and expressed optimism about its potential to support domestic manufacturers.
She drew attention to the widely cited estimate that Ghana imports approximately 70 per cent of its medicines while local manufacturers account for the remaining 30 per cent.
Dr Addae noted that although the 70 per cent import and 30 per cent local production ratio had been repeatedly cited over the years, the value of imports had increased substantially.
“We always hear that we import 70% and manufacture 30%, and people have stated that that figure has not changed over the years. Ten years ago, that figure was about $250 million. Today, that figure sits a little over $750 million,” she said.
Her remarks highlighted the financial scale of Ghana’s reliance on imported medicines and the need to strengthen domestic production.
The figures she cited suggest that the value of pharmaceutical imports has more than tripled over the period, although the statement does not establish whether the increase reflects higher import volumes, changes in medicine prices, exchange-rate movements or a combination of factors.
The policy is expected to provide a framework for addressing the structural challenges facing local manufacturers and encouraging greater investment in domestic production.
