Founding Director of the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Professor Gordon A. Awandare has been appointed to the board of the newly inaugurated National Vaccine Institute (NVI) at a short ceremony on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at the Jubilee House in Accra.
His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic who inaugurated the NVI governing board, tasked the members with formulating policies and overseeing the implementation of vaccine production and manufacturing in Ghana. Members of the board include Prof. William Kwabena Ampofo -President of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative and Secretary to the Presidential Committee on Vaccine Manufacturing and Development, Dr. Baffour Awuah – Special Advisor to the Minister of Health on Human Resource at the Ministry of Health; Mr. Mustapha Tawiah Kumah -Director of Certification at the Ghana Standards Authority; Dr Daniel Gyingiri Achel -a Radiation Biologist with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, and Ms Fredrica Sala Illiasu.
The others are Dr. Delese Darko -Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Authority; Prof. Alex Dodoo, Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority; Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye -Director General of the Ghana Health Service; Mr Kofi Nsiah-Poku, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kinapharma Ltd; Prof Kofi Opoku Nti -President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson -Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); and Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah as chairman of the board.
Highlighting the importance of self-reliance in vaccine development and manufacturing, President Akufo-Addo stated that the establishment of the NVI is a crucial first step towards securing Ghana’s future in the context of global vaccine nationalism. President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the significant challenges ahead but expressed confidence in the competencies of the individual members of the board, stressing the need for thorough engagement and consultation. He assured the board of his unwavering support in their mission to transform Ghana into a vaccine-manufacturing hub, not only within West Africa but also throughout the entire African continent.
The mandate of the National Vaccine Institute includes coordinating and facilitating vaccine production, such as mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, as well as those targeting diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
With the support of Prof. Awandare's extensive experience and WACCBIP's research capabilities, the NVI will be able to strengthen domestic vaccine manufacturing in the short term and establish additional facilities that meet international standards in the medium term.
