Ghana is looking to raise as much as $2.5 billion in sustainable financing to jump-start its vaccine manufacturing ambitions, as the government convenes a high-profile forum in Accra aimed at attracting global investors, development partners, and pharmaceutical stakeholders.
The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), is hosting the one-day Vaccine Manufacturing Forum at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City. The event is themed “Mobilising Sustainable Financing to Accelerate Vaccine Development and Manufacturing in Ghana: The Role of Financing Institutions and Development Partners.”
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to deliver the keynote address, with Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh serving as guest of honour.
The forum comes amid renewed urgency in Africa’s push for pharmaceutical self-reliance, following the COVID-19 pandemic that exposed vulnerabilities in global vaccine supply chains. Despite Ghana’s established regulatory infrastructure and a growing pharmaceutical base, officials say financing remains the most significant barrier to building a full-scale, end-to-end vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.
The government is courting both private capital and multilateral support to bridge the multi-billion-dollar gap. Discussions will center on blended finance models, public-private partnerships, and regulatory incentives designed to make the sector more attractive to long-term investors.
"The goal is to transform Ghana into a regional hub for vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing," said Tony Goodman, Deputy Director and spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, in a statement issued Monday. “This forum is a strategic platform to align resources and forge the partnerships needed to realise that vision.”
Germany’s GIZ, through its PharmaVax Ghana program—funded by the German Development Ministry (BMZ) and the European Union—has been working with Ghanaian authorities since 2021 to build local pharmaceutical capacity. The World Bank is also backing the government’s efforts to scale up biomanufacturing capabilities.
On the industry side, local drugmakers such as Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd. and DEK Vaccines Ltd. have entered into technology transfer agreements with international partners to support fill-and-finish operations within Ghana, a critical step in the vaccine supply chain.
Organizers say the event will gather key players across government, finance, research, and industry sectors. Participants are expected to generate actionable proposals to advance Ghana’s vaccine self-sufficiency agenda.
The event will be conducted in a hybrid format to allow both in-person and virtual participation from global stakeholders.
With the global health landscape shifting toward localized manufacturing and pandemic preparedness, Ghana’s push comes at a pivotal moment. The challenge now, officials say, is securing the capital needed to move from policy to production.
