European Union supports Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing efforts with €32 million investment
The European Union (EU) has pledged €32 million to enhance vaccine production in Ghana through the Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa Initiative (MAV+). This global initiative, backed by €1 million from the EU budget and the European Investment Bank, aims to create an enabling environment for local vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
Speaking at an event in Accra to announce the support, Mr. Irchad Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana, highlighted that the funds would address barriers in both vaccine supply and demand. The MAV+ initiative recognizes the complexity and urgent needs of the vaccine manufacturing sector and seeks to establish a thriving ecosystem for vaccine and drug production.
In April of this year, the EU, through the European Investment Bank (EIB), provided a €5 million seed grant to the vaccine manufacturing unit at DEK vaccine limited. Additionally, the EU joined the German Development Corporation in a project to upgrade the vaccine licensing capacity of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). Proper vaccine licensing is crucial to ensuring that vaccines produced in Ghana meet quality standards for regional and global markets.
Mr. Razaaly mentioned that the GAVI Board recently approved the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, a financing instrument that will make up to $1 billion available to support sustainable vaccine manufacturing. With this support and contributions from the EU and other development partners, Ghana is well-positioned to access the resources needed for its ambitious vaccine manufacturing agenda.
The EU expressed its commitment to assisting Ghana in developing a national vaccine policy to facilitate the government’s launch of domestically produced vaccines. Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health, affirmed that the government is diligently working towards establishing Ghana as a vaccine manufacturing hub.