March 30, 2026
The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), through its School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences (SBBS) and School of Pharmacy (SOP), has entered into a strategic dialogue with German Development Cooperation (GIZ) under the PharmaVax Ghana programme to advance Ghana’s vaccine workforce and research capacity.
The initial engagement, held on Friday, February 20, 2026 at the Main Campus of the University at Sokode-Lokoe, Ho, focused on bridging critical gaps in human capital development to strengthen national health sovereignty and position Ghana as a regional hub for vaccine innovation. Africa currently produces less than 1% of the vaccines administered across the continent, a stark reminder of the region’s dependence on external supply chains and the urgent need for specialized workforce training, robust research infrastructure and scalable manufacturing.
Through the Vaccine Science Programme, UHAS and GIZ aim to train pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, biomedical scientists, medical laboratory experts, industry specialists and regulatory professionals in the technical competencies required for domestic vaccine production. The initiative will adopt a transdisciplinary model, leveraging collaboration across UHAS schools, research institutions and industry partners to deliver both immediate and long-term impact. The PharmaVax Ghana programme is co-financed by the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Beyond workforce training, the programme seeks to strengthen Ghana’s biomanufacturing capacity and establish a sustainable national training platform that will endure beyond initial funding cycles. Stakeholders emphasized that the partnership will not only transform Ghana’s pharmaceutical landscape but also contribute to broader industrial and public health advancement across West Africa through sustained research, innovation and workforce development.
The GIZ delegation included Jasper Sablah, Component Manager; Dr. Anna K. Quartey, Technical Advisor; and Sofia Kolb, Intern. The UHAS team was led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lydia Aziato, alongside senior faculty members including Professor Seth Kwabena Amponsah (Dean of SBBS), Professor Kwame Ohene Buabeng (Dean of School of SOP), Professor Kwame Banga (Director of the Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine), Professor Peter Atadja (Former Dean and Faculty of SBBS), Professor Theophilus Adiku (Former Dean and Faculty of SBBS), Professor Clement O. Tettey, Professor Cornelius Dodoo (Faculty of SBBS) and several other distinguished academics and researchers.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward reducing Africa’s vaccine dependency and building a resilient health ecosystem capable of responding to future public health challenges.