Ghana has taken a significant step toward boosting its vaccine manufacturing capacity and deepening bilateral relations with Indonesia following a high-level visit to Jakarta and Bandung.
The delegation, led by the Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ghana, H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, included key officials from the National Vaccine Institute, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Atlantic Life Sciences Ltd., and the GIZ PharmaVax programme.
The team attended the International Conference of Vaccine Manufacturers in Bali before holding strategic meetings with Indonesian government agencies.
Engagements with Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance focused on regulatory cooperation, capacity building, and technology transfer. A Memorandum of Understanding between Ghana’s FDA and BPOM is expected to be signed soon, with technical support from Indonesia AID.
The delegation also visited PT Bio Farma in Bandung, one of the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers producing over three billion doses annually. A partnership between Bio Farma and Atlantic Life Sciences is expected to enable local production of Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccines in Ghana by 2026.
H.E. Rois highlighted that the renewed cooperation reflects the historic ties between the two nations dating back to the era of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and President Sukarno. Discussions are ongoing for Indonesia to open an embassy in Ghana by 2026, with a reciprocal Ghanaian mission planned for Jakarta.
Beyond health, the two countries are exploring collaboration in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, industrialization, and education. The delegation also met Ghanaian students in Indonesia who are benefiting from full scholarships.
H.E. Rois proposed state visits between President John Dramani Mahama and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to cement the growing cooperation.
The visit marks a major milestone in Ghana–Indonesia relations, setting the stage for expanded partnerships under the South–South Cooperation framework.
Source: adomonline.com
