The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), is set to host a high-level Vaccine Manufacturing Forum on 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 forum aims to explore innovative funding models to support Ghana’s bold vaccine manufacturing agenda.
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama will serve as the Special Guest of Honour, with Minister for Health Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh as Guest of Honour. The event is expected to draw financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, development partners, policymakers, investors, and research institutions to engage in key discussions that could shape the future of vaccine self-sufficiency in the country and across the region.
The forum comes at a time when lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of building resilient health systems, particularly in Africa. Ghana, with its strong foundation in pharmaceutical regulation and production, is positioning itself as a leading hub for vaccine manufacturing in West Africa.
Despite the progress, a significant challenge remains: financing. An estimated US$2.5 billion is needed to establish a comprehensive end-to-end vaccine manufacturing ecosystem in Ghana. The forum seeks to mobilise this investment through public-private partnerships, blended finance, and policy reforms that encourage long-term commitments from development partners and private investors.
Since 2021, institutions like the World Bank and GIZ—on behalf of the German Development Ministry and the European Union—have been supporting Ghana’s efforts. The GIZ-led PharmaVax Ghana programme, closely aligned with NVI’s vision, aims to enhance Ghana’s local pharmaceutical capacity.
Private sector players such as Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd and DEK Vaccines Ltd have already entered into Memoranda of Understanding with global partners to advance vaccine fill-and-finish capabilities within the country.
The upcoming forum will serve as a platform to:
- Facilitate stakeholder dialogue across the public and private sectors;
- Explore sustainable finance models and partnerships;
- Identify regulatory incentives for investment; and
- Develop actionable proposals to advance Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing goals.
To ensure broader participation, the event will be held in a hybrid format—welcoming both in-person and virtual attendees from across Ghana and the global health community.
The Ministry of Health is calling on all stakeholders to actively participate in this landmark event and help mobilize the resources needed to safeguard health, promote innovation, and build a resilient pharmaceutical sector for Ghana and beyond.
