Trade Ministry Rolls Out PharmaVax Programme to Strengthen Local Drug Manufacturing
The Director of Administration at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Yaw Sakyi, has affirmed government’s commitment to making Ghana a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the sub region through policies and programmes that support the growth of the industry.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, at a meeting in Accra on Thursday, Sakyi said the Pharmaceutical Policy would provide the implementation systems needed to drive the development of the sector.
He made the remarks as the Ministry announced the launch of the PharmaVax Programme, an initiative designed to strengthen governance in the pharmaceutical sector, improve investment conditions and expand market access for local manufacturers.
Mr Sakyi commended the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development for providing a grant of €415,437.78 to support the programme.
He said the PharmaVax Programme would focus on strengthening governance institutions within the pharmaceutical sector, enhancing public private dialogue between government and industry players, improving the environment for foreign direct investment and trade, and promoting greater transparency in investment conditions and authorisation processes.
The Head of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development Unit at the Ministry, Mr Godfred Gobah, said the Ministry would work closely with the private sector and participate in local and international events to increase the visibility of Ghana’s pharmaceutical industry and create new market opportunities for local manufacturers.
He said the programme is expected to help the country achieve a number of targets by 2030, including doubling the export value of pharmaceutical products within the Economic Community of West African States market and increasing the share of locally manufactured pharmaceutical products from 30 percent to 60 percent.
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry is implementing the programme in collaboration with GIZ Ghana, the European Union and other stakeholders to strengthen the ecosystem supporting Ghana’s pharmaceutical industry.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
