The European Union (EU) and German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) have organised a vaccine quality assurance training for staff of the Food and Drugs Authority.
The training, a collaboration between the EU, GIZ and FDA, is in line with renewed efforts to make the country a vaccine-manufacturing hub. It aims to equip FDA staff with the necessary skills under a Hands-On Assessors project.
History
In 2020 and 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana faced serious difficulties in accessing vaccines.
To address this challenge, government introduced measures aimed at encouraging the private sector to establish vaccine-manufacturing plants in the country; ensuring the availability of high-quality vaccines in Ghanaian and West African markets.
This vision led to the establishment of a National Vaccines Institute that received substantial funding of over €3.1million, co-funded by the European Union and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The training and closing ceremony
The Hands-On Assessors training programme comprised three models: a 15-day Quality Assessors Training, a 15-day Clinical Assessors Training and a 10-day Non-Clinical Assessors Training – all with the objective of introducing participants to innovative models and techniques, and equipping them for their vital roles in ensuring vaccine quality.
All participants received certificates signifying completion of the training and their readiness and competence in checking and validating vaccines.
At the closing ceremony in Accra, Dr. Delese Darko, Chief Executive Officer-FDA, highlighted the history and purpose of Hands-On Assessors Training – emphasising the support of Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo.
“In April 2022, the president of Ghana pledged his unwavering commitment to transforming our nation into a vaccine-manufacturing hub,” she said, adding: “With support from the EU and GIZ, in 2023 our staff were trained on inspections of vaccine-manufacturing plants, and now Quality, Clinical and Non-clinical assessment of vaccines dossiers for our assessors.”
“By November 2023, the FDA will take another pivotal step by initiating feasibility studies to construct an ISO Class 5 with 6 background cleanrooms. FDA will also establish a Molecular Biology Laboratory and continue acquiring the laboratory equipment necessary to operationalise these facilities,” she stated.
Evans Dontoh, speaking on behalf of the trainees, expressed gratitude to the partners involved and congratulated his colleagues for completing the training.
This training marks a significant step toward the country’s goal of becoming a key player in vaccine-manufacturing for the sub-region.
