Financial partners identified for local vaccine manufacturing – Frimpong-Boateng
Chairman of the Presidential Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has announced that financial partners for the construction of the plant for local vaccine manufacturing, have been identified.
Feasibility studies have also been completed to pave way for the project to start in July this, he said.
“PEK has completed the feasibility studies, financial partners have been identified led by IFC and are working to produce a bankable project and it is expected that construction of the plant will start by July this year,” Prof Frimpong Boatneg said on Tuesday Aoril 12.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo earlier expressed optimism that the first phase of local commercial vaccine production would commence in January 2024.
He told Parliament that in the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday March 30, that a Bill will shortly be sent to the legislature for support and approval for the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute.
He said “The management of our Covid-19 has been exemplary. By the grace of the almighty we have saved lives.”
He added “I took the decision we would prioritize the saving of lives, and, then, we would get together to rebuild our economy. Nobody imagined the devastation would be so widespread and last so long.
“We had to learn some very hard lessons, and our belief in the need to be self-sufficient was reinforced when vaccine nationalism was played out blatantly by the rich and powerful countries.”
“Mr Speaker, the Presidential Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, which I set up to respond to this obvious deficiency, has put in place a comprehensive strategy for domestic vaccine production, and the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute to implement the strategy, which will enable us to begin the first phase of commercial production in January 2024.
“A Bill will shortly be brought to you, in this House, for your support and approval for the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute.
“This pandemic exposed other shortcomings of our country, which have, undoubtedly, contributed to the anxieties that have befallen the nation. Agenda 111 was born out of this necessity to address some of these shortcomings. At the normal rate of growth, we are not likely to make up the deficit in our health facilities infrastructure for a very long time. Hence, the need for a special, dedicated programme of infrastructural development.”
Source:3news
