President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has officially launched a governing board consisting of thirteen (13) members for the National Vaccine Institute (NVI).
The primary responsibility of the board is to establish policy guidelines and execute plans for vaccine production and manufacturing in Ghana.
The NVI is tasked with overseeing the coordination and facilitation of the capacity of DEKS Vaccines Ltd. and other domestic pharmaceutical companies to finish, package, and fill mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, as well as vaccines for malaria and tuberculosis, among others.
Prof. William Kwabena Ampofo, former Head of the Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, is the Chief Executive Officer of NVI. Prof Gordon A. Awandare, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs and Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), and Prof. Alex Dodoo, former Director of the Centre for Tropical, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, are also members of the Board.
Others are Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, Chairman; Prof Rita Akosua Dickson; Prof. Kofi Opoku Nti; Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye; Prof., Dr. Baffour-Awuah; Dr. Delese Darko; Dr. Daniel Gyingiri Achel; Mr. Mustapha Tawiah Kumah; Mr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku and Ms. Fredrica Sala Illiasu.
President Akufo Addo has acknowledged that the task of developing Ghana into a vaccine manufacturing hub is a challenging one, but he expressed his firm belief in the competencies and experiences of the board members. He congratulated the members and assured them of his full support to accomplish everything necessary to establish Ghana as a vaccine manufacturing hub in not just West Africa, but the entire African continent.
The President emphasized the need for the government to take decisive action to prevent Ghana from being adversely affected by vaccine nationalism in the future. “We must take control of our own destiny,” H.E. Akufo Addo emphasized.
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Story by: Kelly Adjetey Boye | univers.ug.edu.gh
