By Our Reporter
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the committee he set up to recommend an appropriate COVID-19 vaccine to government has duly completed its work and that has paved way for his administration to begin purchase arrangements with the suitable vaccine manufacturer.
Addressing participants of the 72nd Annual New Year School and Conference at the Great hall of the University of Ghana, under the theme: “Building Ghana in the face of Global Health Crisis”, President Akufo-Addo said the details of the work and report of the committee would be made public soon by his government.
“The committee formed by government to recommend the appropriate decision on COVID-19 vaccines has completed it work enabling government to begin discussions with vaccine manufacturing companies with the goal of ordering suitable doses of the vaccines for use in Ghana. Details of this will be announced very soon” President Akufo-Addo said.
In his address, the President noted that, “the (COVID-19) pandemic has illustrated vividly the need for self-reliance in all areas of social and economic life”.
To this end the President noted that “It is key that we also break the cycle of dependence on foreigners in the field of science and medicine as well”.
“It is not beyond our scientist, and pharmaceutical companies, whose knowledge and expertise’s cannot be questioned to produce an indigenous Ghanaian vaccine to combat the virus. We must be up and doing” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, the Presidential Coordinator for the Government of Ghana’s Coronavirus Response Programme and former deputy director of the World Health Organization, delivered the keynote address at the ceremony.
He noted that the COVID-19 crisis that has bedeviled the world is a clear and present danger that every country is dealing with.
He therefore called on the general public to ensure that all COVID-19 Protocols in place are respected at all times in order to help stop the spread of the novel corona virus, COVID-19 in Ghana.
