By: Bright Ntramah
Government’s agenda to make Ghana the Pharmaceutical hub of West Africa has been given a major boost with the inauguration of the State of the Art Pharmaceutical Company at Ningo Prampram in the Greater Accra Region. The $35 million project under the One-District -One -Factory Initiative is the 107th of such projects to be inaugurated under the Initiative.
President Akufo-Addo who cut the sod for production to begin at the Atlantic LifeScience Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant was pleased the factory will create some 380 direct jobs, and when fully operational, will generate additional 400 direct jobs.
Atlantic Lifesciences Limited, is a major importer and supplier of Anti- Snake serum & Anti-Rabies vaccine in the West African region. The new sterile plant commissioned under the ID1F initiative will produce, among others, Anti- Snake, Anti-Rabies, Anti-Diphtheria, Anti-Scorpion, Anti-Tetanus, & Anti-Gangrene products.
Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company added the manufacturing of some essential medicines to support the fight against Covid-19 and the government’s self -reliant policy. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic Lifesciences Limited Dhananjay Tripathi, appealed to the government to limit the importation of pharmaceutical products that can be locally produced.
Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremanten observed that a vibrant local pharmaceutical industry will be the ”surest way to wean the country from its over dependence on the imported pharmaceutical products”.
President Akufo-Addo said the creation of about 380 direct jobs and 2500 indirect jobs will reduce the unemployment situation in Ghana. He said the government will continue to support the private sector to create more factories.
Out of the total of $35 million spent to establish the manufacturing plant, $10 million of the amount was provided for by the government through the Ghana EXIM Bank towards the purchase of plants, equipment and machinery.