Ghana to Host High-Level Vaccine Manufacturing Forum on August 6

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), is set to host a major Vaccine Manufacturing Forum on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.

Themed “Mobilising Sustainable Financing to Accelerate Vaccine Development and Manufacturing in Ghana: The Role of Financing Institutions and Development Partners,” the high-level event aims to bring together government officials, investors, development partners, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions to develop innovative financing strategies that will support Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing ambitions.

Presidential and Ministerial Presence

The forum will be graced by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama as the Special Guest of Honour, with the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, serving as Guest of Honour. Their participation underscores the government’s strong commitment to enhancing vaccine security and pharmaceutical self-reliance in Ghana and across the West African region.

Addressing a $2.5 Billion Financing Gap

Despite notable progress in health regulation, research, and local pharmaceutical production, Ghana faces a significant financial hurdle—estimated at $2.5 billion—to establish a fully integrated vaccine manufacturing ecosystem. The forum seeks to mobilise sustainable investment through blended finance models, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and global collaboration to bridge this funding gap.

Strategic Support and Partnerships

Since 2021, GIZ and the World Bank have been instrumental in supporting Ghana’s drive toward pharmaceutical and vaccine self-sufficiency. GIZ, under the German Development Ministry (BMZ) and the European Union, is implementing Pharma Vax Ghana, a programme aligned with the goals of the NVI.

Local manufacturers such as Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd and DEK Vaccines Ltd have also made significant strides, having signed Memoranda of Understanding with global partners to facilitate technology transfer and the fill-and-finish of vaccines within Ghana.

Forum Objectives

The Vaccine Manufacturing Forum aims to:

• Facilitate robust dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders;
• Explore sustainable financing mechanisms including blended finance and PPPs;
• Identify policy and regulatory frameworks that attract long-term investment;
• Generate actionable proposals and partnerships to accelerate vaccine manufacturing in Ghana.

The event will be hosted in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual) to ensure broad local and international participation.

A Call to Action

In a statement signed by Tony Goodman, Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry encouraged all stakeholders and development partners to actively participate in the forum. “This is a critical conversation aimed at unlocking the financial resources needed to protect lives, drive innovation, and build a healthier and more resilient Ghana,” the statement read.

As the world continues to reflect on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana’s ambition to become a regional hub for vaccine production is seen as a bold and necessary step toward future pandemic preparedness and healthcare sustainability.