Ghana will soon become the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to have a dedicated human vaccine manufacturing factory.

Merck, a German based, pharmaceutical company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ridge Management Solutions, a project management development company which will deliver a state of the art plant that will produce a diverse range of products in the medium to long term.

The project is aimed at addressing some of the challenges in the local vaccine supply and more importantly to align with the AU Pharma Manufacturing plan for Africa and to boost free trade within the African region.

The signing of the MOU comes at a time when Ghana is reeling under the outbreak of swine flu and meningitis both of which need urgent vaccination to save the lives of students in the country’s senior high school

Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Ridge Management Solutions signed on behalf of RMS while Dr. Fritz Sacher, Vice President in charge of Africa Strategy Realization at Merck signed on behalf of Merck

The MoU is a culmination of a fruitful discussion between the two companies over the last two years.

As part of the MoU the two companies have agreed to putting the basic design, facility construction as well as equipment supply installation, technology transfer, validation support, training and qualification of staff

Brigitte Zypries, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy and a delegation who accompanied the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a three-day state visit to Ghana, witnessed the signing of the MoU along with Ghana’s Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The Vice President commended the initiative which he said fits into Ghana’s own rapid industrial transformation project.

He said the project will not only be of relevance for Ghana alone but Africa as a whole.