EU Ambassador highlights PharmaVax as Ghana’s path to regional vaccine hub

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, has emphasised the potential of the PharmaVax Ghana programme in reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape in Ghana and across Africa. 

Speaking at the inaugural steering committee of the project, hosted at the Alisa Hotel on Thursday (21 November), the ambassador outlined the EU’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s journey toward becoming a regional vaccine production hub.

PharmaVax Ghana is a pivotal component of the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+), which aims to address Africa’s dependency on vaccine imports. 

According to Razaaly, MAV+ has mobilised over €1.3 billion in grants and loans across 80 projects, with PharmaVax receiving €33 million in funding from the EU and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The project is designed to bolster Ghana’s capacity in vaccine and pharmaceutical production through investments in infrastructure, skilled workforce training, and regulatory frameworks. 

“PharmaVax is a holistic project,” said the ambassador, highlighting its focus on creating trusted, high-quality Ghanaian-made vaccines and medicines for regional and global markets.

Ghana’s progress, including the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute and a roadmap for vaccine development, was commended. 

However, challenges such as meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) production standards and preparing for the transition from Gavi support by 2029 were noted. 

The EU has allocated an additional €32 million through MAV+ to address these hurdles.

Razaaly urged stakeholders, including government representatives, academia, and private sector players, to align their expertise and vision. 

He described the initiative as a “new chapter” in Ghana’s journey toward self-reliance in health and a significant step towards reducing Africa’s reliance on imported vaccines, which currently stands at 99%.

The meeting reinforced the EU’s Global Gateway investment package for Africa, aimed at strengthening health systems and promoting equity in access to medicines.

Reporting by Caleb Ahinakwah in Greater Accra

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