The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has unveiled a strategic plan aimed at transforming Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector into a leading manufacturing hub in the sub-region through the implementation of the PharmaVax Programme.
The initiative is designed to strengthen governance systems within the pharmaceutical industry, improve collaboration between government and private sector actors, attract foreign direct investment, and enhance transparency in regulatory and investment approval processes.
At a stakeholder meeting in Accra on Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Ministry reaffirmed government’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a competitive centre for pharmaceutical production and distribution in West Africa.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Director of Administration, Yaw Sakyi, said the programme will provide the necessary policy and implementation framework to drive sustainable growth in the sector.
He expressed appreciation to development partners, including the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, for providing funding support of €415,437.78 towards the initiative.
According to the Ministry, the PharmaVax Programme is anchored on four key pillars: strengthening institutional governance in the pharmaceutical space, deepening public-private sector engagement, improving the investment climate, and promoting transparency in licensing and regulatory processes.
The Head of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development Unit, Godfred Gobah, indicated that the Ministry will also intensify engagement with industry stakeholders and participate in both local and international platforms to promote Ghana’s pharmaceutical products and expand market access.
He said the long-term goal of the programme is to significantly boost the country’s pharmaceutical output and competitiveness, with targets set for 2030.
These include doubling the value of pharmaceutical exports within the ECOWAS sub-region and increasing the share of locally produced pharmaceutical products in the domestic market from 30 percent to 60 percent.
The Ministry, in collaboration with GIZ Ghana, the European Union, and other partners, says it is working to build a strong and coordinated ecosystem that will support innovation, investment, and industrial growth in Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector.
