By Edzorna Francis Mensah
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed worry over the shortage of some childhood vaccines in the country, as he stated that, “the current shortage of some childhood vaccines in the country has concerned me greatly”.
According to him, this shortage, if prolonged, will negatively affect Ghana’s Childhood Immunisation Programme, which he said has been recognised as one of the most successful in the world.
During the delivery of a message on the state of the nation on Wednesday, 8th march 2023, at Parliament House, Mr President mentioned the fact that, “the WHO has only recently expressed worry about a steady decline in measles vaccination coverage globally, because of the concentration on the fight against COVID-19”.
……..”In accordance with our desire not to become part of this global trend, the Government has taken steps to ensure that stocks of these vaccines are procured and supplied, as a matter of emergency. The Ghana Health Service has developed an elaborate programme to catch up on children who have missed their vaccinations immediately stocks arrive”, he added.
The President, however, encouraged all parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children are vaccinated, once this programme begins, “no child should be denied access to vaccination. Mercifully, so far, not a single child has died as a result of the outbreak”.
He recognized that, Parliament has already passed into law the National Vaccine Institute Bill, which is yet to be sent to him for assent, but he added that, “in the near future, this Institute will ensure that, no matter what happens to the global vaccine supply chain, we can produce our own vaccines locally”.
“Government recognises that sustained growth must be deliberate, especially in a global landscape marked by forces of technology, trade, and intense competition. It requires a combination of leadership, social cohesion, and deep investments in core capabilities of people, firms, and institutions to harness our opportunities.
This is why, together with our private sector counterparts, we are anchoring Ghana’s medium-term growth drivers on competitiveness, integration, adaptation, and digital innovation, all aimed at raising per capita GDP from the current two thousand, five hundred dollars (US$2,500) to four thousand, five hundred dollars (US$4,500) (aligning with the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter) by 2030,” he noted.
