Ghana: Pre-Qualifying Local Vaccine Manufacturers for Africa

• Ghana is preparing to pre-qualify its local companies to manufacture vaccines for both domestic and wider African markets.
• This initiative follows Ghana's decision to join the Africa Pool Procurement Mechanism, creating opportunities for continental supply contracts.
• A regional meeting in Accra in November will launch an application process for companies to demonstrate their manufacturing capacity.
• Pre-selected companies will gain access to tenders for the African market of over 1.4 billion people.
• Ghana has selected five initial vaccines based on their importance to the national immunization program and incentives from the Gavi Africa Vaccines Manufacturing Accelerator.

Successful pre-selection will grant these companies the eligibility to participate in tenders, thereby opening access to the vast continental market, which encompasses over 1.4 billion people.

Ghana is actively preparing to pre-qualify its domestic companies for vaccine production, targeting both its own market and the broader African continent. This strategic initiative was recently unveiled by Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI). The move aligns with Ghana's commitment to the Africa Pool Procurement Mechanism, a continental framework designed to foster opportunities for local vaccine manufacturers to secure supply contracts across Africa.

Dr. Sodzi-Tettey confirmed on the Joy FM Super Morning Show that Ghana's overarching strategy involves manufacturing and supplying specific vaccines, marking a significant shift from its current reliance on imports. This plan is a direct outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Ghana, which is expected to culminate in the country's capability to produce and distribute various vaccines.

The initial phase of this ambitious undertaking will commence with a regional meeting scheduled for November in Accra. This gathering will bring together leaders of the Africa Pool Procurement Mechanism, with the primary objective of identifying and preparing Ghanaian companies possessing the requisite manufacturing capabilities. During this event, an application process will be formally launched, through which local companies will undergo assessment and subsequent pre-qualification.

Prospective manufacturers will be required to furnish comprehensive details regarding their production capacity, including the specific types of vaccines they can produce and the volumes achievable. Successful pre-selection will grant these companies the eligibility to participate in tenders, thereby opening access to the vast continental market, which encompasses over 1.4 billion people. This mechanism is designed to ensure that Ghanaian firms can secure Ghanaian vaccine supply contracts across Africa, leveraging their newly acquired pre-qualification status.

Ghana has strategically identified five vaccines for the initial phase of its manufacturing efforts. This selection was primarily driven by their critical importance to the nation's immunization program. Furthermore, the decision was influenced by the availability of incentives offered under the Gavi-supported Africa Vaccines Manufacturing Accelerator initiative. This program is specifically designed to stimulate vaccine production across Africa, particularly in areas demanding more complex manufacturing capabilities.

These incentives are crucial for helping manufacturers offset the substantial investments typically required for producing sophisticated vaccines. The Ghana National Vaccine Institute pre-qualification process will therefore consider how companies can leverage these opportunities. Dr. Sodzi-Tettey indicated that Ghana intends to begin with a product that does not currently benefit from such subsidies, before progressively moving into the production of more complex vaccines. The expectation is that governments will provide a stable market for these initial products.

This initiative represents a pivotal step towards enhancing Africa's health security and reducing reliance on external vaccine sources. By fostering local manufacturing, Ghana aims to strengthen its own public health infrastructure while contributing to regional self-sufficiency. The ability of Ghanaian companies to secure Ghanaian vaccine supply contracts Africa-wide will not only boost the national economy but also ensure a more resilient and responsive supply chain for essential immunizations across the continent.

This strategic pivot underscores a commitment to long-term investment in domestic pharmaceutical capabilities, with the goal of recouping significant investments through sustained market participation.

Ghanaian legal counsel for pharmaceutical or manufacturing companies should advise clients on the upcoming application process for vaccine manufacturing pre-qualification, assessing eligibility and preparing for potential supply contracts under the Africa Pool Procurement Mechanism.

Source: Original reporting via Clara Seshie