Ghana is targeting an increase in locally manufactured medicines from approximately 30 per cent to 60 per cent within five years under a new Cabinet-approved Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy.
The policy, launched by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, is intended to reduce the country’s reliance on imported medicines and strengthen domestic pharmaceutical production.
Dr Bernice Makafui Brempong, Presidential Coordinator for the Ghana Pharmaceutical Hub and Senior Executive in Charge of Investments in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals at the Office of the President, described the policy as a major milestone in Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda.
She said the approval provides a strategic framework for building a competitive and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
“Let us move from policy to implementation, from ambition to investment, and from dependence to greater domestic productive capacity,” Dr Brempong said.
The policy supports President John Dramani Mahama’s ambition of achieving at least 70 per cent pharmaceutical self-sufficiency. Ghana currently relies on imports for approximately 70 per cent of its medicine supply.
It also aims to double the value of pharmaceutical exports to markets within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Ghana Pharmaceutical Hub to drive investment and industrial growth
Dr Brempong said the Ghana Pharmaceutical Hub, a presidential legacy initiative under the New Economy Programme, would help translate the government’s industrial transformation agenda into economic opportunities.
The Hub is expected to bring manufacturers, input suppliers, research and testing facilities, and shared infrastructure together to establish an integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem.
She said the initiative would support manufacturers through reliable infrastructure, skilled professionals, market access, strong regulatory systems and a predictable business environment.
Industry expansion could create jobs for pharmacists
The policy is also expected to create employment opportunities, particularly for Ghana’s approximately 1,600 unemployed pharmacists.
Dr Brempong said specialised industrial pharmacy training could help clinically trained pharmacists transition into manufacturing roles while supplying the skilled workforce needed to expand local production.
She added that strengthening domestic manufacturing could improve access to essential medicines, attract investment and retain more economic value within Ghana.
Central Region to host second phase of Pharmaceutical Hub
Dr Brempong announced that the second phase of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Hub is expected to be developed in the Central Region.
The expansion will focus on connecting agriculture with pharmaceutical manufacturing through the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, herbal and plant-based medicines, raw materials and packaging materials.
Plans also include a centre for bioavailability and bioequivalence studies to support pharmaceutical research, testing and product development.
The initiative is expected to create opportunities for local businesses, agricultural producers, researchers and investors while reducing reliance on imported production inputs.
Private sector participation key to implementation
Dr Brempong said successful implementation would require collaboration among government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, investors, regulators, research institutions and development partners.
She stressed that increased domestic production must be accompanied by high standards of medicine quality, safety and efficacy.
The policy seeks to address longstanding challenges in the sector, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, raw material shortages, skills development and investment incentives.
Dr Brempong said the government’s ambition was to position Ghana as a competitive supplier of quality medicines to African and international markets.
With the policy approved and launched, the next phase will focus on implementation, investment mobilisation and developing the infrastructure needed to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing.
She said the ultimate measure of success would be the creation of functioning industries, sustainable jobs, improved medicine security and a stronger Ghanaian economy.
