Frimpong-Boateng has sought financial partners for local vaccine manufacture

Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Chairman of the Presidential Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, has revealed that financial partners have been sought for the development of a plant for local vaccine manufacturing.

Feasibility studies have already been completed, paving the way for the plant’s construction to begin in July, he said.

“PEK has finished the feasibility studies, finance partners have been selected lead by IFC, and are striving to deliver a bankable project,” Prof Frimpong Boatneg stated on Tuesday, Aoril 12.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the first phase of domestic commercial vaccine manufacture will begin in January 2024.

He told Parliament that a bill for the formation of the National Vaccine Institute will be brought to the legislature for support and approval in the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday, March 30.

“Our Covid-19’s management has been exceptional,” he remarked. “By the grace of God, we have been able to save lives.”

“I made the choice that we would prioritize rescuing lives, and then we would come together to rebuild our economy,” he continued. Nobody could have predicted such extensive devastation for such a long time.

“We had to learn some very difficult lessons, and our confidence in the need to be self-sufficient was reinforced when vaccine nationalism was openly practiced by the wealthy and powerful.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Presidential Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, which I established to address this obvious deficiency, has put in place a comprehensive strategy for domestic vaccine production, as well as the creation of a National Vaccine Institute to carry out the strategy, allowing us to begin commercial production in January 2024.”

“A bill will be introduced in this House shortly for your support and approval to establish the National Vaccine Institute.”

“This pandemic exposed other flaws in our government, which likely added to the nation’s anxiety.” Agenda 111 arose from the necessity of addressing some of these flaws. We won’t be able to make up the gap in our health-care infrastructure for a long time if we continue to grow at our current rate. As a result, a specific, dedicated infrastructure development program is required.”