Founding Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana, Professor Gordon Awandare, has stressed the need for government to provide deliberate institutional and financial support to homegrown scientists. He explained that such investment is critical to enabling innovation and the development of drugs and vaccines that can place Ghana on the global map in scientific and medical research.
His call came during the Centre’s 2025 Vaccine Research and Development Forum, organised in partnership with GIZ. The two-day event, held on September 17, 2025, at WACCBIP, brought together seasoned researchers, students, and policymakers to discuss emerging issues in science and technology and to shape policymaking in the drug discovery space. The Forum was themed “Partnerships for the Production of Biologics and Vaccines in Ghana.”
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Univers News on the sidelines of the event, Professor Awandare explained that the aim of the Forum was to create a unified platform for stakeholders in the biomedical value chain to share ideas and disseminate research findings. He stressed that moving beyond conventional approaches requires well-funded research from both government and the private sector, which can drive homegrown solutions to pressing challenges in vaccine development.
“Vaccine research and drug discovery is a very structured and layered process involving multiple scientific disciplines. It is therefore instructive to have a platform such as the WACCBIP/GIZ Forum, which brings together researchers, students, development partners, and policymakers to brainstorm and discuss findings that can translate scientific concepts into workable solutions for the drug discovery and production process.
With emerging global issues—particularly around geopolitics and scientific innovation—the government, through agencies like the National Vaccine Institute and the recently launched National Research Fund, must prioritize support for homegrown scientists in both academia and industry. This will ensure that we develop our own drugs and vaccines, giving us ownership of the products and channeling economic benefits into the local economy once the product development process and quality control standards are met.”
Professor Awandare further stressed that for Ghanaian and African research to gain greater recognition on the global scientific stage, governments and partners must go beyond reliance on Western-made products. He called for sustainable funding pathways that challenge local scientists to create world-class products that bring both value and revenue to local industries.
“The next level of scientific progress requires state actors to create an enabling environment that supports world-class teaching and training for the next generation of African scientists. They must be well-motivated to innovate rather than depend solely on products and vaccines developed in the West.
With proper funding, African innovation and technology can provide solutions to emerging challenges in drug production and vaccine research, positioning the continent as a hub of cutting-edge innovation. This will not only yield world-class results but also generate intellectual property rights and significant economic returns for local economies.”
Jasper Sablah, Component Lead for Governance and Regulations at the PharmaVaX Programme under GIZ, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Ghanaian-led innovation.
“GIZ, as an international development-oriented organisation, is committed to supporting homegrown innovations and projects in science and technology that provide solutions to pressing issues in medicinal research in Ghana and across Africa.
We are proud to partner with a world-class institution like WACCBIP, whose quality research can be translated into viable products essential to the vaccine development value chain. For us, WACCBIP is a key strategic partner, and our doors remain open for further collaborations on this journey to excellence.”
The Forum also featured presentations from selected scientists and innovators, who guided participants through how their projects are being transformed from concept notes into real-world solutions in the biomedical field.
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Story by Sika Togoh |univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
