Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has intensified his stakeholder engagements with the pharmaceutical industry, as he explores strategies to position Ghana as West Africa’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.
On Friday, Dr Bawumia visited the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) House in Accra for a consultative meeting with the society’s leadership, focusing on the opportunities and challenges confronting Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the former Vice-President to hear firsthand the concerns of pharmaceutical professionals and discuss practical measures to strengthen domestic medicine production, improve the business environment and expand the industry’s contribution to national development.
Key issues discussed included boosting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, streamlining regulatory processes, improving professional support for pharmacists and strengthening public-private partnerships to accelerate investment and innovation.
Ghana’s ambition to become a pharmaceutical manufacturing powerhouse will require sustained investment in production facilities, modern technology, research and development, and a regulatory environment capable of supporting both local manufacturers and internationally competitive businesses.
Expanding domestic production could help reduce reliance on imported medicines, strengthen supply-chain resilience, create jobs and improve access to essential pharmaceutical products.
It could also position Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies to serve markets across West Africa, provided they can meet the necessary quality, safety and regulatory standards.
The engagement with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana also highlights the importance of consulting industry professionals when developing policies intended to stimulate private-sector growth.
Pharmacists and pharmaceutical manufacturers play critical roles in medicine distribution, patient safety, quality assurance and the development of a sustainable healthcare system.
Addressing their concerns, while improving access to finance, infrastructure and technology, could help unlock new investment opportunities and strengthen the sector’s competitiveness.
Dr Bawumia’s continued stakeholder engagements form part of his broader consultations with professional bodies and private-sector groups on the challenges facing businesses and the wider economy.
The pharmaceutical sector presents a significant opportunity for Ghana to link industrial development with healthcare delivery, employment creation and export growth.
