Ghana is looking towards strengthening its diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom, the United States, and other nations in order to get more Covid-19 vaccinations.
Ghana is presently looking for more vaccinations to deliver second jabs to over 400,000 people after securing a little over 350,000 doses from the Democratic Republic of Congo through the COVAX program for certain people who are scheduled for their second jabs.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integrations, called on the UK to assist Ghana in procuring additional vaccinations during a goodbye call by the Outgoing High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Iain Walker.
“We are hoping that if there are any other vaccines available within the continent that countries are not using, we will be very happy to take these vaccines, so I hope that we can engage more and see where these are from. We know that there are excess vaccines in the U.S. We are looking at how we can benefit from that too.”
President Akufo-Addo has previously voiced his dissatisfaction with what he describes as Africa’s desperate search for COVID-19 vaccinations for its citizens.
The inability of African countries to manufacture their own vaccines, as well as the struggle to develop diagnostic test kits when COVID-19 was first detected in the continent, according to the President, shows that more needs to be done to improve quality healthcare delivery in Africa in the face of the pandemic.
Ghana selected as a manufacturing hub
During his 24th COVID-19 speech to the nation, President Akufo-Addo also announced the formation of a committee to draft a specific strategy for vaccine research and manufacture in Ghana.
According to the European Union (EU), Ghana ranks first among African nations for the potential manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines.
Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU’s Vice President, made the announcement during President Akufo-two-day Addo’s business visit to Brussels, Belgium.
The Jubilee House published a statement on Friday, May 21, 2021, confirming this.
The European Commission suggested the selection of Ghana as a viable production centre for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa at a meeting with Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, according to the statement.
The West African country’s probable pick comes on the heels of the government of Ghana’s efforts to domestically manufacture vaccines.
Two task force teams from the EU and Ghana will meet soon to examine the initiative’s implementation procedures.
The initiative, if successful, might get funding from the European Investment Bank, according to reports (EIB).
Source: CITINEWSROOM
