Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Nsiah Asare, has charged Ghanaian scientists to contribute towards developing vaccines locally.

President Akufo-Addo set up a committee chaired by former Minister for Science and Technology Professor Frimpong Boateng to harness local minds and resources to develop Covid-19 vaccines.

Dr Nsiah Asare was speaking at the 2021 WACCBIP Research Conference, at which the genomic evolution of covid-19 in Ghana will be discussed.

At least four local pharmaceutical manufacturers have already indicated their readiness to provide the Ghanaian market with Covid-19 vaccines, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has said.

The announcement came after the government revealed that they are pursuing local production options following setbacks encountered with foreign markets.

Dr Nsiah Asare wants to speed up the process and is calling on Ghanaian minds to innovate.

“The collaboration between scientists, academia and policymakers is needed so that Ghana will become the hub of vaccines production.

“As you’re aware, his excellency the president has formed a committee which is chaired by eminent scientist Professor Frimpong Boateng, former Minister for Science and Technology.

“The committee is working round the clock to ensure that Ghana becomes the vaccine production country, and if not for the country alone, for the West African and entire African region.”

He continued, “We know that the committee cannot work alone, without academia and the scientists, and are working closely with scientists in the various universities, WACCBIP is one of them.

“We are hopeful that through the good work that you’re doing as a centre, together with Noguchi and the likes, very soon, we can come out with our own candidate vaccine.”

The European Commission has named Ghana as one of its possible manufacturing hubs of Covid-19 vaccines in Africa.

“At the meeting with the Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission indicated the selection of Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Africa,” read a statement from the Office of the President.

During a two-day working visit by President Akufo-Addo, the announcement was made known to Brussels, Belgium, from May 19 to 20.

This, according to the Commission, follows the initiatives already taken by government towards the domestic manufacturing of vaccines.

In May, three Ghanaian companies working to produce Covid-19 vaccines locally presented proposals on their plans to government.