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Ghana Seeks $115M Investment to Boost Nation’s Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Agenda: ‘We Will Not Beg’

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At the Ghana Vaccine Manufacturing Investment Forum held in Accra last month, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh,  delivered a bold message to investors, development partners, and industry leaders: “Ghana will not beg for vaccines. Ghana will make them.”

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh speaks at the inauguration of the governing boards of key regulatory agencies in July, 2025.

The address, delivered in the presence of President John Dramani Mahama on August 6, 2025, captured Ghana’s determination to transform its health sector into a cornerstone of national sovereignty and industrial strategy.

Citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, when Africa, with 1.4 billion people, received just 3% of global vaccines, Akandoh said Ghana’s future would be defined by manufacturing, not dependence.

Capital at the Core of Expansion

Central to the Minister’s remarks was a clear financial appeal: Ghana’s two leading domestic vaccine manufacturers, DEK Vaccines Ltd and Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd, require $115 million in capital to reach operational scale.

“Their facilities exist. Their teams are trained. What they need is capital, capital, capital,” he stressed.

This funding, he argued, is not aid but investment. With national immunisation plans guaranteeing domestic demand, strong regional markets in ECOWAS, tax incentives, and a politically stable environment, Ghana offers what the Minister called a “structured partnership” for investors.

National Vaccine Institute at the Center

The National Vaccine Institute (NVI), already fully operational, is spearheading coordination, regulatory alignment, and investment mobilisation.

Alongside local manufacturers, NVI is building the framework for a regionally integrated vaccine ecosystem capable of responding to both local and continental needs.

Research and Regional Integration

Ghana’s scientific base, spanning Noguchi, KCCR, CSIR, CPMR, and several universities, already has candidate vaccines in development. What remains is financing to move from laboratory trials to commercial production.

The Minister highlighted Ghana’s strategy to integrate with ECOWAS and wider African health markets, stressing that vaccine sovereignty is not just a health goal but also an industrial and labour policy with direct implications for economic resilience.

Global Partners Invited to Commit

Acknowledging early contributions from the European Union, Germany’s BMZ and GIZ, the World Bank, and the WHO, Akandoh urged development banks, equity funds, and blended finance platforms to deepen their commitment.

“The world often talks of ‘de-risking Africa.’ But what could be less risky than financing essential medicine for a population of 1.4 billion?” he asked.

A Continental Vision

Closing his speech, the Minister declared that the future of vaccines in Africa will not be decided in distant boardrooms but “in factories and labs right here in Accra and Tema.” 

With political will, a trained workforce, and regulatory capacity in place, the minister expressed optimism that Ghana was positioning itself not only to manufacture and regulate but also to export and lead.

“The time for talk has passed,” he concluded. “The future is in our hands. Let’s build it.”

The Ghana Vaccine Manufacturing Investment Forum took place on 6th August 2025 at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra.

The strategic event brought together key industry stakeholders, to discuss the crucial role of financing institutions and development partners in accelerating vaccine development in Ghana.

President John Dramani Mahama was Special Guest of Honour and led discussions on the government’s strategic direction for strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

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Ghana News

Ex-President Akufo-Addo and President Mahama Exchange Pleasantries on Easter

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Kwahu, Ghana – Former President Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama on Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026, while both leaders were in the Kwahu enclave for the annual Easter celebrations.

The meeting took place as President Mahama participated in activities linked to the Kwahu Business Forum, a major event held alongside the Easter festivities.

Akufo-Addo, who has maintained a nearly two-decade tradition of spending Easter in Kwahu, described the visit as a cordial engagement during the sacred period.

In a Facebook post, the former president wrote: “On the Holy Saturday of Easter, while in Kwahu where for almost two decades I have consecutively visited during the sacred period of Easter, I called on the President of the Republic, H. E. John Dramani Mahama who is also in Kwahu.”

The encounter highlights a moment of peaceful political civility between the current and immediate past leaders of Ghana amid the festive season. No further details about the substance of their discussion were made public.

The visit comes at a time when both leaders are actively involved in national and regional development conversations, with Mahama using the Kwahu platform to engage stakeholders on economic matters.

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Ghana News

Mahama Calls Christ’s Birthplace an ‘Epicentre of War’, New Airport Concourse Planned and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

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We have curated the most relevant and impactful stories from Ghana to keep you informed.

‘It’s Painful Christ’s Birthplace Now an Epicentre of War’ – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has described the ongoing violence in the Middle East as a “painful irony,” noting that the birthplace of Christianity and the land where Christ preached love, forgiveness, and peace has become a major centre of conflict. In his Easter message delivered at Black Star Square on April 3, 2026, Mahama said the suffering in the Holy Land cannot be ignored during the season of Easter. He extended Ghana’s thoughts and prayers to the people of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, and the wider Middle East region, urging world leaders to embrace restraint, dialogue, and respect for human dignity.
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Gov’t to Construct New Concourse at Accra International Airport to Ease Congestion
The Ghana Airports Company Limited will begin construction this month on an ultra-modern concourse linking Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport. The project aims to eliminate current operational bottlenecks, enable seamless passenger transfers, and significantly improve hub efficiency. Key features include five additional passenger boarding bridges, five passenger holding areas, bi-directional travelators, new escalators and elevators, a VIP lounge, four business lounges, and four retail and duty-free pods. The expansion forms part of a broader modernisation drive to provide world-class facilities and strengthen Ghana’s position as a competitive aviation hub in West Africa.
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Gov’t Procures Over 24,000 Medical Equipment to Support Free Primary Healthcare Rollout
The Ghanaian government has acquired 24,534 pieces of medical equipment to strengthen health facilities ahead of the nationwide rollout of its free primary healthcare policy. The consignment, inspected by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, includes baby incubators, radiant warmers, oxygen concentrators, X-ray machines, ultrasound devices, laboratory analysers, vital signs monitors, glucometers, patient monitors, infusion devices, delivery beds, and hospital beds. The equipment will be distributed across government hospitals to improve diagnostics, newborn care, and overall service delivery at the primary level.
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Ghana to Manufacture First Vaccine with Support from Indonesia
Ghana is set to begin local production of its first vaccine with technical and partnership support from the Indonesian government. Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Ghana, Paskal A B Rois, confirmed that a high-level delegation from Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute, Food and Drugs Authority, and GIZ visited Indonesia late last year to finalise arrangements. Once operational, Ghana will become the third African country — after Senegal and South Africa — to manufacture vaccines domestically. The initiative is expected to enhance the country’s health security and reduce dependence on imported vaccines.
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No Business Thrives Without Trust in Justice System — Chief Justice
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has emphasised that trust in the judicial system is essential for business growth and investor confidence in Ghana. Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum on April 4, 2026, he stated that contracts must be honoured, property protected, and disputes resolved fairly and predictably for any economy to flourish. The Chief Justice announced that the judiciary is repositioning itself to become an active partner in creating a business-friendly environment anchored in the rule of law. He warned that delays and uncertainty in the justice system carry real economic costs by discouraging investment.
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Ghana President Convenes Emergency Cabinet Meeting to Cushion Ghanaians from Soaring Fuel Prices

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President John Dramani Mahama has convened an emergency cabinet meeting to address the sharp rise in fuel prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the escalation involving Iran.

Speaking on Saturday, April 4, 2026, during the second day of the Kwahu Business Forum, President Mahama stated that the meeting will focus on practical interventions to ease the burden on citizens.

He specifically mentioned the possibility of adjustments in fuel margins and other components of the price build-up to help keep prices relatively stable while hoping for de-escalation of the conflict.

“I have called for this emergency cabinet meeting to decide on specific measures we can take to cushion petroleum prices,” Mahama said. “There are adjustments we can make, particularly in the margins, to help maintain relatively stable prices as we pray for the war to cease.”

The President assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to protecting the economy from external shocks and has taken steps to build resilience.

“I can confidently tell you that the economy will not collapse because of the war in Iran,” he stated.

Mahama also commended transport unions for showing restraint by not immediately increasing lorry fares despite the fuel price surge.

He urged them to continue exercising patience as the government works on relief measures. Fuel prices rose significantly effective April 1, 2026, with petrol increasing to approximately GH¢13.30 per liter (a 15% hike) and diesel to GH¢17.10 per liter (a 19% hike) for the first half of April.

The government is reviewing options including reductions in margins and levies to provide relief to consumers.

This latest development highlights the direct link between global geopolitical tensions and domestic living costs in Ghana, as the government balances immediate relief with longer-term economic stability.

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