The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has said it is set to deepen the regulatory systems in the country in a bid to ensure quality in the manufacturing of vaccines.
According to the FDA, this is part of Ghana’s plan to become a vaccine manufacturing centre.
As part of this move, the European Union and the German Development Cooperation, under the Institutional and Technical Strengthening of the FDA Ghana project, are training Food and Drug Authority (FDA) staff.
Forty-one staff members of the FDA have completed hands-on assessor training to enhance the FDA’s capacity to regulate and ensure that safe and quality vaccines are produced in Ghana.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training, the chief executive officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, Dr Delese Darko, said the FDA, with the support of its partners, has been diligently working to implement the FDA regulatory systems strengthening programme to ensure the quality and efficacy of locally manufactured vaccines.
“By November 2023, the FDA will take another pivotal step by initiating feasibility studies to construct an ISO Class 5 with 6 background cleanrooms. These developments underscore our dedication to building the infrastructure to regulate locally manufactured vaccines,” she said.
Meanwhile, the team leader of GIZ support for the vaccine manufacturing component, Dr Holger Till, who also spoke at the event, reiterated the commitment of GIZ to strengthening relevant actors in the vaccine production process.
“Together, we have made significant progress since the start of the project, and very soon, FDA Ghana will have the full capacity and WHO standards for vaccine manufacturing regulation,” he added.
The team leader, Macroeconomic and Trade Sector, EU delegation to Ghana, Timothy Dolan, said the support will ensure that the FDA has the capacity in terms of facilities and personnel to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of locally manufactured vaccines that meet WHO and international standards.
“I have no doubt that developing high-quality manufacturing capability will require sustained commitment and partnerships, as well as strong pharmaceutical, regulatory, and governance systems, and this clearly points out the need to support the regulator, namely the FDA.”
Reporting by Seeta Abena Semenu in Accra
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