Accra, Feb. 15, GNA- The German Government has expressed its commitment towards supporting Ghana to develop the framework for domestic vaccine production.
The Government of Ghana has initiated a ten-year vaccine manufacturing roadmap intended to make Ghana a vaccine production hub in the sub-region.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Daniel Krull, the German Ambassador to Ghana, said the German Government, as part of its development cooperation with Ghana, would support the successful implementation of the project.
“The German Government will jointly with the support of the European Union support the Ghana Government in its attempt to set up the framework for this project to be successful,” he said.
Mr Krull said the partnership would facilitate the upgrade and strengthening of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and contribute to the production of various vaccines in the country.
The support would ensure that the FDA has the capacity in terms of facilities and personnel to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy of locally manufactured vaccines that meet World Health Organisation (WHO) and international standards, he said.
Mr Krull said Germany also provided technical and logistical support to the Presidential Vaccine Committee tasked with the mandate to develop the roadmap for the domestic production of vaccines.
He said Representatives of the Committee are currently in Germany in a bid to strengthen partnerships with German and other European players involved in vaccine production.
“Two weeks of meetings, inspections of research facilities and vaccine production sites are lying ahead,” he said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as part of his official visit to Germany, is expected to attend the presentation of the BioNtech modular production facility for MRNA vaccines on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, towards a pan-African Project for the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Africa.
Mr Krull said Germany remained a major bilateral provider of cooperation funds for Ghana, adding that the current cooperation portfolio amounts to more than €700 million.
He said economic ties between Germany and Ghana “have a bright future” with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Despite COVID-19, trade figures between Ghana and Germany remain relatively stable and that is a very encouraging sign.”
“…In the development cooperation portfolio, we are focusing on green energy, inclusive growth and good governance,” he said.
Mr Krull said in the field of inclusive growth, the German Government was working to foster private sector initiatives and start-ups in various fields of the economy.
GNA