Ghana and South Africa have expressed their determined efforts of their respective countries’ readiness to lead Africa’s quest for vaccines to combat infections especially during pandemics such as covid19 to avoid the unfair treatment of developing nations in the distribution of covid-19 vaccines.
Ghana and South Africa have expressed their determined efforts of their respective countries’ readiness to lead Africa’s quest for vaccines to combat infections especially during pandemics such as covid19 to avoid the unfair treatment of developing nations in the distribution of covid-19 vaccines.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Sunday highlighted their countries’ preparations towards self-reliance in vaccine production at the Ghana-South Africa Business Forum held at the Kempiski Hotel in Accra.
Speaking at the Ghana-South Africa business forum in Accra, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made a call to African countries to prioritize efforts in producing their own vaccines.
Mr Ramaphosa said the best way to vaccinate the entire population on the continent is for African countries to start producing their own vaccines.
Speaking at the forum in Accra on Saturday, he said “The fastest way to vaccinate our population is if we are allowed to manufacture our own vaccines and at the same time build our own domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
He urged the private sector in Africa to be at the forefront of the continent’s economic recovery in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, and called for all African countries to contribute to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which will lead to the prosperity of the individual member states.
With about 170 South African businesses worth US1.7 billion in Ghana, President Ramaphosa said more can be achieved by even greater collaboration.
President Akufo-Addo for his part, said Ghana has taken the steps to ensure that coronavirus vaccines are produced locally.
Mr Akufo-Addo said African countries could no longer rely on other countries around the globe for vaccines to inoculate the people.
He said Ghana must be self-sufficient in this regard in the future, and prepare better to deal with any such occurrences in the future.
President Akufo-Addo also cemented the call to embrace the AfCFTA stressing with 16 percent of African GDP is derived from African trade, the need for focus on what Africans can do is laid bare by the statistics and the success of aftca is absolutely important.
He also reiterated the importance of the private sector in the reform of the economy in Africa and supported the call for African govts to stay out of running businesses.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Wamkele Mene said the total contributions of Africa to global trade is just about 3percent making us dependent on foreign and imported products.
He said the aftca is working hard to lead the private sector to expand the African economy, stressing the importance the success of the AFCFTA is tied to the success of bilateral trade between countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
