Ghana News
Waiting in Long Queues: Mahama Recalls Pandemic Trauma as He Pushes for Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Across Africa
President John Dramani Mahama has invoked the painful memory of Africa’s struggle for COVID-19 vaccines as he urged the continent to accelerate local production of medicines and vaccines, declaring that the pandemic’s hard lessons must never be forgotten.
Speaking at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, President Mahama recalled the deep inequities that defined the global pandemic response, when African nations were left behind as wealthier countries secured supplies.
“We all remember waiting in long queues while wealthier countries secured vaccines before Africa,” Mahama told the gathering of African heads of state, health ministers, and global health experts. “That painful experience taught us a lesson we must never forget.”
A Continent’s Vulnerability Exposed
The President’s remarks underscored the stark reality of Africa’s dependence on external suppliers. He noted that the continent still imports approximately 70 percent of its medicines, over 90 percent of its medical devices, and almost all of its vaccines—a vulnerability that COVID-19 laid bare in devastating detail.
“We all remember waiting in long queues while wealthier countries secured vaccines before Africa,” Mahama said. “That painful experience taught us a lesson we must never forget.”
The President argued that Africa must draw lasting lessons from the pandemic by investing in local production capacity to ensure the continent is better prepared to respond to future disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
Ghana’s Ambitious Vaccine Agenda
Mahama highlighted Ghana’s strategic investments in vaccine production through the establishment of the Ghana Vaccine Institute, which forms part of broader efforts to improve Africa’s manufacturing capacity. The institute, led by CEO Dr. Sodzi-Sodzi Tettey, is working to build a credible and efficient clinical trials ecosystem essential for vaccine development and production.
“Ghana is equally investing in vaccine production through the Ghana Vaccine Institute to strengthen Africa’s manufacturing capacity,” Mahama said.
The urgency of Ghana’s shift from vaccine dependency to self-reliance is rooted in the hard lessons of the pandemic, which exposed stark global inequities in access to life-saving vaccines. For Ghana, delays in securing doses underscored a critical vulnerability: reliance on external supply in times of global crisis.
Building the Clinical Trials Ecosystem
In a significant step toward realizing this vision, Ghana has hosted a three-day Clinical Trials Assessment Workshop in Sogakope, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the National Vaccine Institute and supported by the European Union under the Vax & Pharm Ghana Project.
The workshop convened key institutions—including the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Health Service, ethics committees, academia, and clinical research institutions—to evaluate Ghana’s clinical trials landscape and align it with global standards.
“Strong clinical trials systems are the backbone of credible research and a critical pillar of Ghana’s vaccine production agenda,” said Dr Fiona Braka, WHO Representative to Ghana.
Dr. Sodzi-Sodzi Tettey, CEO of the National Vaccine Institute, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Ghana’s ambition to manufacture vaccines and pharmaceuticals cannot be realized without a credible and efficient clinical trials ecosystem. This workshop is a key step toward building the systems, partnerships, and standards required to support that vision.”
A Framework for the Future
A major milestone of the workshop was the introduction of the draft WHO Clinical Trials Ecosystem Assessment Tool. Participants began adapting the tool to Ghana’s needs and developed a harmonized field assessment plan for a nationwide evaluation of clinical trial capacity. By the end of the three days, stakeholders had developed a draft national action plan to strengthen clinical trials governance and operations.
The European Union, which supported the workshop, reaffirmed its commitment:
“Our support to the Vax & Pharm Ghana Project reflects a shared commitment to strengthening local capacity. A robust clinical trials ecosystem ensures that Ghana’s innovations are not only locally produced but globally recognized.”
Progress Across the Continent
President Mahama expressed optimism about the progress already being made across Africa, noting that several countries were expanding vaccine manufacturing and strengthening scientific research.
“Today, we are witnessing encouraging progress as vaccine manufacturing expands across Africa,” he said. “New scientific capacity is emerging in Dakar, Cape Town, Kigali and many other parts of the continent.”
He noted that the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa was steadily moving from policy aspirations to practical implementation, creating new opportunities for the continent to produce more of its own medicines and health products.
The AfCFTA and Economic Transformation
Mahama further linked healthcare manufacturing to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying the continental market provided an opportunity for African countries to build competitive pharmaceutical industries and strengthen regional trade.
“Through the African Continental Free Trade Area, health sovereignty also becomes a strategy for industrialisation, economic transformation and sustainable development,” he stated.
He stressed that building strong pharmaceutical value chains should not be viewed solely as a healthcare intervention but also as an economic strategy capable of driving industrial growth, innovation and employment.
“Building strong health value chains will create industries, laboratories, factories and quality jobs for millions of African youth,” President Mahama said.
A Vision for Health Sovereignty
President Mahama said Africa had reached a stage where it could no longer afford to remain dependent on external production for life-saving medicines and vaccines, particularly at a time when global health financing was declining and international supply chains remained vulnerable.
He urged African governments to increase investments in research, innovation, manufacturing infrastructure and regulatory systems to build a competitive pharmaceutical industry capable of serving the continent’s growing healthcare needs.
The President said achieving health sovereignty required African countries to move beyond importing finished products to developing complete pharmaceutical value chains that support research, production, quality assurance and distribution.
In a decisive move to fulfill President John Dramani Mahama’s digital transformation agenda, the government has successfully pressured the nation’s leading telecommunications operators into slashing broadband prices and increasing data allocations, marking a major political and policy victory for the administration.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced the sweeping changes during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, framing the outcome as a direct result of the government’s successful negotiation tactics and strong-arm leverage over the telecom sector.
The Minister revealed that MTN, facing the sharpest government intervention, increased its mobile data volumes by 15 per cent, while Telecel and AirtelTigo also bowed to pressure, increasing theirs by 10 per cent.
Most notably, MTN’s fibre broadband tariffs have been dramatically revised. The 100 Mbps unlimited package has been slashed from GH¢987 to GH¢299 per month, representing one of the largest residential broadband price reductions in recent years and a massive 70% drop in cost for consumers.
Presenting the reductions as a fulfillment of the Mahama administration’s core policy promises, Minister George emphasized that the interventions are part of a broader mission to force the private sector to align with the government’s public interest goals.
“These interventions form part of President Mahama’s digital transformation agenda to make internet access more affordable and expand opportunities for education, business and innovation,” Mr George stated.
He added that the government’s objective is to ensure that digital connectivity becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth rather than a luxury available to only a few, directly warning the telecom giants that the state will not tolerate the exclusion of ordinary Ghanaians from the digital economy.
The Minister assured Ghanaians that his Ministry will continue to exert regulatory and negotiating pressure to improve digital infrastructure, expand access to reliable, high-speed internet, and ensure that the government remains the ultimate arbiter of affordability for the citizenry.
Ghana News
Buckingham Palace Responds to Jamaica’s $10 Billion Reparations Demand, But the UK Government’s Wallet Remains Shut
A historic diplomatic maneuver that highlights the stark contrast between UK’s royal sympathy and governmental policy has been triggered by Jamaica’s official petition to King Charles III on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The petition formally requests that the UK’s highest court review the legality of the transatlantic slave trade and whether Britain has a legal obligation to pay reparations.
However, while Buckingham Palace has pledged its engagement with the process, the United Kingdom government immediately reiterated its firm position that its “wallet remains shut”.
Led by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, the delegation filed the petition in London, marking the first time a Commonwealth country has utilized this specific legal route to advance the cause of reparatory justice.
The petition seeks an advisory opinion from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), Jamaica’s highest court of appeal based in London, on three pivotal questions: whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was legal under English common law, whether it breached international law, and whether the UK is currently legally obligated to provide a remedy for the harm caused.
While initial reports suggested Jamaica was seeking a $10 billion settlement, Minister Grange clarified to journalists that no specific sum is attached to the petition; instead, it aims to establish a legal foundation for determining what, if anything, is owed.
The Royal Response
The response from Buckingham Palace was characterized by procedural engagement coupled with royal distance. Contrary to some initial headlines, King Charles III—who is currently in Scotland and was not present for the delivery—will not personally receive the petition.
A palace spokesperson clarified that the process requires the petition to be lodged directly with the Judicial Committee under Section 4 of the 1833 Act, rather than being handed to the King.
The spokesperson emphasized that the King has “on many occasions expressed his personal and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today”.
The Palace also confirmed that the Jamaican representatives would be received by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for bilateral discussions.
The Government’s Hardline Stance
While the Palace signaled engagement, the response from the British government was unequivocal and immediate. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Downing Street office stated, “The UK does not and will not pay reparations”.
The spokesperson added, “The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent and of course it’s right that we acknowledge the wrongs of the past, but we’ll continue to face forward and work with other countries on our current shared challenges”.
This stance remains unchanged despite recent acknowledgements that the UK significantly benefitted from the trade, and the fact that British institutions, such as the Church of England, have previously pledged funds to address their historical links.
A Historical Irony
The refusal comes against a backdrop of historical precedent that critics and advocates often highlight. In 1833, the British government agreed to a compensation package of £20 million (worth approximately $2.6 billion today) to be paid to British slave owners for the “loss of their property” after the abolition of slavery legislation.
“Encouraged” but Firm
Despite the government’s refusal to entertain financial compensation, Minister Grange expressed optimism about the engagement from Buckingham Palace.
“We’re not pre-empting the process, but we are encouraged,” she told Reuters, noting the Palace’s role in ensuring the petition was properly lodged through the Governor-General.
The move is seen as a significant escalation in the wider Caribbean reparations campaign. By seeking a legal opinion, Jamaica aims to bypass the political impasse that has blocked progress at Commonwealth summits.
If the JCPC rules in Jamaica’s favor, it could provide a powerful legal platform not only for Jamaica but for other former British colonies in the Caribbean demanding reparations, potentially paving the way for litigation in British courts.
Here are the top headline stories pulled from the front pages of the provided Ghanaian newspapers.
The Dispatch
- Main: GHANA MUST KEEP TWO TERM PREZ LIMITS – ASIEDU NKETIA
- Secondary: IGP YOHUNO PROMOTES SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARRESTED SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH MURDER
- Also: MY JOURNEY FROM RUNNING MATE TO FORMER VEEP IS BY GOD’S DIVINE WILL – DR. BAWUMIA; BLACK STARS COACH QUEIROS TO STAY; REV. STEPHEN WENGAM LAUNCHES THE 10TH TRIENNIAL CONGRESS…
The Hawk Newspaper
- Main: MAHAMA DUMPS ASHIE MOORE (Over ‘Incompetence’ At Sankofa Gold)
- Secondary: FORMER CDS OFFERS BOOZ AND CASH TO KILL STORY; MAHAMA, OPEN YOUR EYES! – Obiri Boahen’s Chilling Warning: NPP ‘Mulling Evil’; SILENT THEN. OUTRAGED NOW – Anin-Yeboah’s Praise Exposes Critics’ Double Standards
The Overseer
- Main: MAHAMA SACKS NDC ‘SERIAL TROUBLEMAKER’ ASHIE-MOORE FROM SANKOFA GOLD
- Secondary: Free Primary Healthcare To Reach All 216 Districts By 2027 – Akandoh; Mahama Has Mobilized $1.7bn For Accra-Kumasi Expressway – Tamakloe; Ato Forson Thanks Constituents For 18 Years Of Support
The New Trust
- Main: Over 300k candidates chose category A schools despite 76,417 vacancies – Education Ministry
- Secondary: Ashanti NPP Women’s Wing cautions “Prophet” Owusu Bempah over attacks on Ayew Afriyie & Bawumia; Govt spent GH¢49.7m on 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from SA – Ablakwa reveals; COKA swears in appointed deputy regional executives & others…urges them to work hard in unity
The National Enquirer
- Main: DON’T PAY ANYONE FOR SHS PLACEMENT – Dr. Apaak warns parents
- Secondary: National Security Nabs Notorious Illicit Drugs Pusher; TOR Seeks Strategic Int’l Partners; Minerals Commission Pushes Deeper Ghana-UK Mining Cooperation; NPA Gears Up – Takes petroleum safety campaign to Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast
The Spyder
- Main: Ayariga’s Cathedral Slip-Up: Chieftaincy Minister Tenure Starts on Wrong Footing
- Secondary: Controversial ‘Witches Conference’ Set for Accra; Former Army Boss’ Cash-And-Booze Trap Fails – Oppong-Peprah’s Journalist Trap Lands Him in Trouble; Do the Math: Students are Getting Smarter in Numbers, Dumber in Words – WAEC
Daily Graphic
- Main: Free Primary Healthcare goes live (Over 4,500 facilities ready • 135 Districts implement policy)
- Secondary: 53,000 Grade 9 BECE graduates given lifeline – They can do self-placement; Amansie Community Bank mobilises GH¢1bn deposits – Highest in Ashanti Region for 2025
Economy Times
- Main: BoG develops regulatory framework for cedi-backed stablecoins
- Secondary: Ghana’s 4-Year Bond issuance settles at 12% – …govt accepts bids of GH¢3.15 billion; Cedi turnaround delivers GH¢23.7bn FX upswing for SOEs
Day Break (Dated September 2, 2026)
- Main: Mahama Sued – …Over Council of State Vacancy
- Secondary: 1 In 4 Fibre Cuts By Galamsey – …Sam George Reveals; Be Like Zijin! – …Armah Buah Charges Ghanaian Mining Companies; Galamsey To Worsen – …Without Right Intelligence Architecture
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