The Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens has cast doubt on President Akufo-Addo’s announcement to procure 17.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine by end of June.
Professor Gordon Awandare who was speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe Sunday described government’s target as unrealistic.
His comment comes after the President in his 23rd address to the nation, disclosed that the country is set to receive the first consignment of the Covid-19 vaccine in March.
President Akufo-Addo was also hopeful that, by the end of June, a total of 17.6 million vaccine doses would have been procured for the Ghanaian people.
The pathologist, however, argued that several countries have already queued for the newly-developed vaccine, as such, “only a few trickles of the vaccine for a small number of people can be procured” by the first half of the year.
“For us [Ghana] to get vaccines in substantial quantities that will make a difference to the people, then it will be in the second half of the year.
“This is because people [countries] have pre-ordered them and we are now trying to place the order so, it will be unrealistic that we will be getting millions of doses of vaccines anytime soon,” he stated.
But in response, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said Prof Awandare is mistaken.
Explaining further, Dr Patrick Aboagye said government initiated processes to acquire the Covid-19 vaccines in 2020, in that regard, he is confident that Ghana will receive the vaccines just as stated by the President.
“… Just as people have pre-ordered, so have we. Either through the COVAX platform and other bilateral that is going on.
“So they [scientists] do not know what we do, we didn’t just start last week and that is why the President can say that he expects those number of doses,” he stressed.
Latest Stories
-
Adamus accused of defying court-directed Interim Management Committee
10 mins -
NPP running mate saga: Frontrunners will be disappointed – John Boadu
26 mins -
As power crisis worsens, calls for truce between ECG and PURC intensify
27 mins -
Unstable exchange rate affects claims payment – Ghana Insurers Association
34 mins -
Bank of Africa Ghana donates to Chief Imam, hosts Moroccan community to mark Ramadan activities
50 mins -
We’re winning 2024 polls hands down – PNC declares
54 mins -
Zen Petroleum opens 50th fuel retail station
59 mins -
Dumsor contributed to NPP’s 2016 victory – Prof Agyeman-Duah
1 hour -
Police link prominent SA businessman to rapper AKA’s murder
1 hour -
Richard Sky’s case must also be thrown out – Sam George
1 hour -
John Kumah’s one-week observance comes off today
1 hour -
WAEC opens online registration for BECE, WASSCE, and G/ABCE candidates
1 hour -
NDC’s allegations of bias against Supreme Court unwarranted, baseless – AG
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo hiding behind judiciary not to sign anti-LGBTQI+ Bill – Asiedu Nketia
2 hours -
‘There were very curious things taking place’ – Usher’s comments about living with Diddy at 14 resurface
2 hours