31/07/2026
Ghana Moves to Close Vaccine Regulatory Gaps as Key Institutions Converge in Accra
Regulators, researchers, manufacturers, policymakers, and development partners gathered Thursday at the Pelican Hotel in Cantonments, Accra, for a high-level stakeholder workshop on Vaccine Development and Manufacturing Regulatory Readiness a meeting that organisers say marks a turning point in Ghana's ambition to become Africa's foremost vaccine hub.
The workshop, jointly convened by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), was co-funded by the European Union and the German Government through the PharmaVax Ghana Programme, implemented by GIZ.
Opening proceedings, NBA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere reminded delegates that Ghana's growing vaccine ambitions carry biosafety responsibilities that cannot be overlooked. "Neglecting this risks solving one problem while inadvertently or maliciously creating another," he said, calling on participants to produce an honest assessment of regulatory gaps and a concrete roadmap to close them.
Dr. Daniel Amaning, Director of Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed government's commitment to building a regulatory framework that clearly defines institutional mandates, promotes interagency collaboration, and aligns with international best practices while addressing Ghana's specific needs across the full vaccine value chain.
GIZ Component Manager Jasper Sablah, speaking on behalf of the PharmaVax Ghana Programme, described regulation as one of four strategic pillars of the programme, which has been in implementation since mid-2024 and runs through 2028. "We believe that regulation is a very key component if you really want to achieve the scale of manufacturing that we want to have," he said.
A representative of the NVI CEO, who was away on official assignment, told participants that regulatory readiness is not merely a technical requirement but a strategic investment in health security, industrial development, and economic transformation.
By the close of the day, participants are expected to agree on a first draft national regulatory framework, working group arrangements, and a donor investment matrix to guide implementation going forward.
