The Government has launched the Cabinet-approved Ghana Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy to boost local drug production, attract investment and reduce the country’s reliance on imported medicines.
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, launched the policy in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. It received Cabinet approval in July 2026.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the policy provides a coordinated framework to address key challenges across the pharmaceutical value chain. Ghana currently depends on imports for about 70 per cent of its medicine supply, with locally manufactured medicines accounting for only about 30 per cent of the domestic market.
The policy aims to increase the share of locally manufactured medicines from 30 per cent to 60 per cent within five years, as an intermediate step towards President John Dramani Mahama’s broader target of achieving 70 per cent pharmaceutical self-sufficiency. It also seeks to double the value of pharmaceutical exports to ECOWAS markets.
She noted that pharmaceutical imports across Africa cost more than US$14 billion annually, resulting in significant foreign exchange outflows.
Six pillars of the policy
The Minister outlined six key pillars underpinning the policy:
Quality assurance and international standards: Supporting local manufacturers to achieve World Health Organization (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification and prequalification.
Market access: Expanding opportunities through public procurement and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Investment and financing: Providing affordable long-term financing through Development Bank Ghana, Ghana EXIM Bank and GIPA.
Pharmaceutical inputs: Expanding local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients and vaccines.
Skills development and research: Strengthening technical expertise and research capacity within the industry.
Regional market access: Promoting pharmaceutical exports through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS.
The launch brought together representatives from the Ministries of Health and Finance, the Food and Drugs Authority, the National Vaccine Institute, Development Bank Ghana, GIZ, WHO and the European Union.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the European Union, German Government, GIZ and WHO for their support towards the development of the policy.
German Ambassador to Ghana, Fredrick Landshoft, welcomed the policy and assured Ghana of Germany’s continued collaboration with local industries to support its implementation and facilitate technology transfer.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa
