Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported medicines - over 80% of the medicines consumed locally- is not just an economic concern but a critical national security vulnerability.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangers of this dependency, as global supply chain disruptions led to shortages of essential medications, exposing millions of our countrymen to preventable health risks.

This overreliance on foreign pharmaceuticals impacts our scarce foreign exchange, weakens currency stability, and leaves the nation at the mercy of geopolitical and market fluctuations. Even more alarming, the World Health Organization estimates that up to 30% of medicines circulating in Africa are counterfeit or substandard, posing a dire threat to public health.

If Ghana is serious about becoming a pharmaceutical hub for Africa, it must prioritize drug development self-sufficiency as a matter of national security.

Ghana’s aspiration to become the pharmaceutical hub of Africa is a noble and achievable goal, but it requires more than political promises. It demands concrete action and strategic investment.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its Resetting Ghana (Jobs. Accountability. Prosperity) – Manifesto pledged to support the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana with incentives to realize this vision.

The Manifesto committed to the following deliverables to better the lot of the Pharmaceutical sector

1. collaborate with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to implement the Ghana Pharmaceutical Sector Strategic Plan;

2. initiate the establishment of a National Bio-Equivalence Centre and a Pharmaceutical Research Institute;

3. provide support to local pharmaceutical companies to expand the production of pharmaceuticals, including essential medicines and vaccines, as part of the 24-hour economy initiatives to reduce dependence on imports;

4. promote the integration of pharmaceutical manufacturing programmes into relevant tertiary education curricula;

5. provide support to local pharmaceutical companies as was initiated in 2015 to expand production of pharmaceuticals including vaccines within the 24-hour economy programme; and

6. Support the Pharmaceuticals Society of Ghana with incentives to make Ghana a Pharma Hub in Africa.

Of the six legs, suffer me momentarily to ventilate on the Pharma hub deliverable. To turn this promise into reality, Ghana can draw valuable lessons from the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF), a model of how targeted funding and government collaboration can propel a nation to the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation.

The Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF) offers a proven model to achieve it. As far back as 1973, South Korea through its National Investment Fund and Korea Development Fund took the bold decision to invest in six(6) strategic industries against the counsel of the World Bank which advised that Korea stuck to Textiles production alone.

The industries – Electronics, steel, non-ferrous metals, industrial machinery and petrochemicals. By 2010, South Korea has become an advantageous country in the production of semiconductors, automobiles, flat-panel displays and sensors, mobile devices, computers, synthetic resins and steel plate as major exports.

But I digress.

South Korea’s KDDF demonstrates how strategic government investment can transform a nation’s pharmaceutical sector into a powerhouse of innovation and resilience. Funded by a coalition of ministries, the KDDF has committed 2 billion to support over 1,200 drug development projects by 2030, yielding breakthroughs in cancer (oncology), metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases areas where Ghana also faces significant burdens.

The fund's success is evident in its 70+ licensing deals, FDA-approved drugs, and a thriving ecosystem of academia-industry collaborations.

Ghana could replicate this approach by establishing a Ghana Drug Development Fund (GDDF), redirecting even a fraction of the budgets allocated to projects like the National Cathedral (400million+) Agenda111(400 million) and Agenda 111 (400million+)andAgenda111(1.7 billion) toward local drug research, manufacturing, and quality control.

A GDDF would not only reduce Ghana’s unhinged import dependency but also stimulate economic growth. By funding partnerships between institutions like KNUST, the Noguchi Memorial Institute, and local pharmaceutical companies, Ghana could accelerate the production of affordable medicines for malaria, hypertension, and diabetes; Diseases that disproportionately affect the continent.

Incentivizing private-sector participation through tax breaks and procurement policies (such as mandating that 30% of NHIS medicines be locally sourced) would create jobs, retain capital, and position Ghana as a leader in African-made pharmaceuticals.

Moreover, a robust local industry would attract foreign investment in clinical trials and biotechnology, as seen with the KDDF’s $17 billion in licensing agreements.

The choice is clear: Ghana can either continue spending over $1 billion annually on imported drugs, perpetuating vulnerability, or it can invest in pharmaceutical sovereignty to safeguard public health and economic stability.

The NDC’s promise to support Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector must move beyond rhetoric and embrace actionable strategies. By learning from the KDDF’s success, Ghana can secure health independence, protect its citizens from counterfeit medicines, and lay the foundation for a thriving, self-sufficient industry.

Corollary to the aforementioned, the Ghana Drug Development Fund (GDDF) so created would create meaningful jobs for young pharmacists and stem brain drain by financing local research opportunities.

Modelled after South Korea's KDDF, the GDDF would fund 1,000+ projects across universities and private labs, offering competitive salaries and leadership roles in drug discovery - from malaria vaccines to hypertension treatments. It would also support pharmacist entrepreneurs through startup grants and industry partnerships, ensuring Ghana retains talent that currently seeks opportunities abroad due to limited research funding.

By 2030, a well-structured GDDF could transform Ghana's pharmaceutical sector into a regional hub, providing global research exposure through international collaborations while keeping scientists anchored in Ghana.

The fund would address the root causes of attrition - lack of funding, career growth opportunities, and competitive wages - enabling young pharmacists to pursue cutting-edge research at home rather than relocating to Europe or America. This investment in human capital is essential to achieve Ghana's ambition of becoming Africa's pharmaceutical powerhouse.

The time to act was yesterday because a country that cannot produce its own medicines is not truly free.

References

Korea Drug Development Fund (Your Gateway for innovative drug candidates in South Korea) - 2022

Resetting Ghana (Jobs. Accountability. Prosperity) NDC 2024 Manifesto

Policy Lessons from South Korea's Development