Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced a major breakthrough in Ghana’s journey towards local vaccine production.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series forum on Thursday, July 18, the minister revealed that a private sector partner has received market authorisation from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to produce Snake Anti-Venom Serum on a commercial scale.
“The government has pledged and remains dedicated to making Ghana a centre for vaccine manufacturing.
In this regard, the National Vaccine Institute is collaborating with the regulatory authority and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders to bring this plan to reality,” Akandoh stated.
He emphasized that this development marks a key milestone in shifting Ghana from a consumer to a producer of critical medical products, a goal long pursued by the Mahama-led administration.
The minister, however, did not shy away from the sector’s challenges.
“We have challenges, no doubt: qualified health workers are waiting for jobs, industrial actions threaten services, infrastructure gaps—especially in regional hospitals—and a poor maintenance culture in our facilities,” he admitted.
Despite these hurdles, Akandoh expressed optimism, stating that the Ministry of Health is planning and investing prudently to address them.
He said the sector is poised for “remarkable transformation,” and reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering free primary health care to every Ghanaian.
He also gave an update on the MahamaCares initiative, describing it as a lifeline rather than just a promise.
“When fully operational, it will support our people who are battling chronic diseases in every part of our country,” he said.
