Merck, the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company based in Germany, has opened its office in Accra, Ghana.
The office, which is the company’s first branch in West Africa, is part of Merck’s strategy to grow its market share and enhance the delivery of safe and quality medicines in the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Accra on Wednesday, the Chairman of Merck Board, Mr Frank Stangenburg-Haverkamp, said the decision of the company to extend operations to Ghana was to expand sustainable access to high quality health solution in Ghana.
He explained that the presence of the company would complement the activities of the health sector and support the development of Ghana.
According to Mr Stangenburg-Haverkamp, Merck has been in existence for over 350 years, and that the company continues to develop modern solutions to enhance the provision of quality and safe medicine in the world.
He said through the Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF), a charitable initiative funded by Merck, an important contribution had been made towards the fight against substandard and counterfeit drugs with the introduction of its minilab, a compact mobile laboratory.
“At this moment, already, 26 minilabs for identifying counterfeit medicines are present in Ghana,” he added.
Why Merck chose Ghana
The President in charge of North and West Africa of Merck, Dr Karmu Beudhauo, said “the company has already been active in Ghana for many years through its many projects, working together with the German government and international organisations to increase access to health solutions in Ghana”.
According to him, a recent research revealed that Ghana was ranked 67th out of a total of 199 countries in terms of favourable environment for doing business.
Mr Beudhauo also mentioned political stability, favourable economic environment and geographical location as contributory factors that fuelled the company’s decision.
He observed that in providing access to health solutions, there was the need to empower healthcare professionals, adding that the presence of Merck would complement the work of health officials in the country.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that at least one-third of the world’s population does not have regular access to medicine,” he said.
Investment in Africa
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr John Ruediger, underscored the need for more German companies to extend their operations and activities to Ghana, since the country’s political stability remained high.
He said the presence of Merck in Ghana was an evidence of the level of determination by the German government to assist the country.
Mr Reudiger, therefore, lauded the company for extending its operation to Ghana.