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Ministry of Health to host Ghana Vaccine Manufacturing Forum
The Ministry of Health has announced that it will host the Ghana Vaccine Manufacturing Forum on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.
According to a press statement issued on August 4, the forum is being organised in collaboration with the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).
It will focus on mobilising sustainable financing to support vaccine development and manufacturing in Ghana.
The statement said the theme for the forum is “Mobilising Sustainable Financing to Accelerate Vaccine Development and Manufacturing in Ghana: The Role of Financing Institutions and Development Partners.”
The Ministry disclosed that the Special Guest of Honour will be His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, while the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, will serve as the Guest of Honour.
The statement highlighted that the forum will bring together government agencies, financial institutions, investors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, development partners, and research institutions to explore innovative financing strategies to advance Ghana’s vaccine production goals.
It added that although Ghana has made progress in health regulation, research, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing, access to financing remains a major challenge.
The forum aims to attract investment to bridge the estimated US$2.5 billion funding gap required to establish a complete vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.
The Ministry noted that development partners such as GIZ and the World Bank have been supporting Ghana’s self-sufficiency drive in pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing since 2021.
It also mentioned that GIZ, on behalf of the German Development Ministry and the European Union, is implementing a programme called PharmaVax Ghana, which aligns with the goals of the National Vaccine Institute.
The statement further revealed that local pharmaceutical firms like Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd and DEK Vaccines Ltd have signed agreements with global partners for technology transfer and vaccine fill-and-finish operations in Ghana.
Key objectives of the forum, as outlined in the statement, include: facilitating dialogue among public and private sector stakeholders; exploring blended financing and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs); identifying policy and regulatory measures to attract long-term investments; and generating concrete proposals and partnerships to support vaccine self-sufficiency.
The Ministry stated that the event will be held in a hybrid format to allow broad participation from both local and international stakeholders.
It concluded by encouraging all relevant stakeholders and development partners to take part in the discussions and help secure the financial resources needed to protect lives, drive innovation, and build a stronger, more resilient Ghana.
News
National Service Authority gets new Director-General
The National Service Authority (NSA) has officially welcomed a new Director-General, Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, following a brief handing-over ceremony at its headquarters on Tuesday.
The event marked the formal transfer of leadership from the outgoing Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi, to Ms. Seddoh. Management and staff of the Authority attended the ceremony.
Mr. Gyamfi used the occasion to thank staff for their support during his tenure.
He encouraged them to give the same cooperation to Ms. Seddoh to ensure the continued growth and impact of the Authority.
Ms. Seddoh expressed appreciation to government for the confidence placed in her.
She promised to build on the achievements of her predecessor and called for teamwork, dedication and innovation to help the NSA deliver on its mandate to support national development.
Management of the Authority pledged their full support to the new leadership as the organisation enters its next phase.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NSA board sets up committee to supervise digital reforms
The Governing Board of the National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the inauguration of a Transition and Implementation Steering Committee (TISC) to oversee the Authority’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the Board, the move follows a letter dated 17 June 2025 from the Office of the President to the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment directing the suspension of the existing deployment system, calling for an audit of its operations and instructing the design and deployment of a new digital platform.
The Board explained that the audit had been completed and had found the existing system unsatisfactory.
It indicated that the Minister had written to the Board to begin the necessary legal processes to ensure the contract for the audited system, which expired in August 2025, would not be renewed, and to take further steps toward designing and deploying a new digital platform that would guarantee transparency, security and real-time verification of service personnel postings.
It stressed that the TISC had been established to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from the current National Service Scheme digital platform to a new ICT-led system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.
The Authority outlined the Committee’s mandate as overseeing the phased migration from the legacy system, directing the design and deployment of a modern digital platform, and supervising its operationalisation across core functions including personnel enrolment, postings, payroll, allowances and scheme administration.
It further noted that acting under the directives of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment and deriving authority from the NSA Board, the TISC has the power to issue instructions to NSA departments and engage external partners necessary to achieve its mandate through the Governing Board.
The Authority named Dr. Wisdom Atiwoto, a member of the NSA Board and Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Health, as chair of the Committee.
Other members include Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, Mr. Shadrack Mensah, Ms. Elorm Goh, Mr. Benjamin Freeman Kusi, Ms. Jennifer Opong, Dr. Stephan Nwolley, Mr. Koku Abotsi, Mr. Japhet Kuntu, Mr. Nabil Abubakar Hussayn and Ms. Regina Obenewa Penrose as Secretary.
The NSA Board assured the public and stakeholders of its commitment to innovation, accountability and excellence in service delivery.
It emphasised that there would be no disruption in the fulfilment of its obligations to national service personnel as outlined in the National Service Act, Act 1119 (2024), and indicated that updates on the Committee’s progress would be communicated in due course.
With the collective expertise of its members, the TISC is expected to deliver a robust and future-ready platform that will anchor the next phase of the National Service Scheme’s operations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
