The Minister for Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, says the government has introduced a coordinated manufacturing policy to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical production, reduce dependence on imported medicines and support local businesses.
Speaking at the launch of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy at the Ghana EXIMBANK Conference Room in Accra on 28 October 2026, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the policy was developed through collaboration between the government, development partners and pharmaceutical companies operating in Ghana.
She explained that the initiative seeks to create an enabling environment for local pharmaceutical companies to expand production, generate sustainable employment and increase revenue for businesses and the state.
“The government, under the able leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, is encouraging more local participation in the pharmaceuticals industry to boost job production, skills transfer and positioning Ghana as the manufacturing gateway of products onto the sub-regional and continental markets,” she said.
She added that the policy would encourage domestic production to meet local demand first, while allowing surplus products to be exported to other African markets.
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshöft, also highlighted the importance of strengthening local pharmaceutical production, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks associated with relying heavily on international suppliers for essential medicines.
He said the experience demonstrated the need for government support to enable local pharmaceutical companies to invest in technology and human resources to meet domestic healthcare needs.
“Germany has many decades of experience in high-scale commercial production of non-medical and medical products over the decades, so we are very pleased through our specialised agencies like the GIZ and German companies operating in Ghana as well to support the new drug manufacturing policy,” he said.
Mr Landshöft added that strengthening local pharmaceutical production would help retain resources in Ghana while creating opportunities for exports and economic growth.
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Vanessa Katrin Ohene
