Ghana has launched a new pharmaceutical manufacturing policy aimed at expanding local drug production, attracting investment and reducing the country’s dependence on imported medicines, whose import bill has risen to more than $750 million.
The Ghana Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy is expected to strengthen the domestic pharmaceutical industry and position the country as a manufacturing and export hub for West Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said the policy would provide a clear framework for turning the government’s commitment into factories, locally manufactured medicines, exports and employment opportunities.
She said the initiative would help attract investment, increase domestic production and improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian pharmaceutical manufacturers.
“Our vision is simple: a Ghana that produces safe, quality and affordable medicines for its people and serves as the pharmaceutical manufacturing hub of West Africa,” she said.
German Ambassador to Ghana Frederik Landshöft also welcomed the policy, highlighting the importance of strengthening local pharmaceutical production following the supply disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said Germany supported Ghana’s ambition to become a regional manufacturing hub, noting that the pandemic had exposed the risks of depending on a limited number of countries for essential medicines and vaccines.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (GPMA), the association’s Executive Secretary, Dr Lucia Addae, also expressed optimism about the policy’s potential to support local manufacturers.
She drew attention to Ghana’s continued dependence on imported medicines, saying the value of pharmaceutical imports had increased substantially over the past decade.
According to her, Ghana has traditionally relied on imports for about 70 per cent of its pharmaceutical needs, with local manufacturers accounting for the remaining 30 per cent.
She noted that the import bill, which stood at about $250 million ten years ago, has now risen to slightly more than $750 million.
“We always hear that we import 70% and manufacture 30%, and people have stated that that figure has not changed over the years. Ten years ago, that figure was about $250 million. Today, that figure sits a little over $750 million,” she said.
The new policy is expected to create opportunities for investment, expand domestic manufacturing capacity and improve the ability of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies to compete in regional markets.
Its success will depend on implementation and whether the measures introduced can translate into increased local production, affordable medicines and reduced vulnerability to disruptions in international supply chains.
