The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) has urged members of the fraternity to adhere to highest standards to safeguard pharmaceutical products against contamination.
It said in the wake of recent flooding and other environmental conditions, medicine integrity remained critical to sustaining the health of society at a time the country was contending with a deeper form of flooding.
The PMAG, therefore, urged members not to compromise standards.
The President of the association, Nana Samuel A. Tobbin, told the Daily Graphic that pharmaceutical security remained critical to the country’s overall health delivery system.
He said given that the country still imported more than 70 per cent of its medicines, the safety of pharmaceuticals was crucial, in order not to compromise public safety.
Nana Tobbin said this in an interview ahead of the PMAG Day 2026 scheduled to be held in Accra on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, on the theme: "Advancing Ghana's pharmaceutical sovereignty through innovation, requisite skills mix and quality industrial value chain for economic transformation."
PMAG Day
The annual event will bring together policymakers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulators, academia, development partners and healthcare professionals to explore strategies to strengthen the country's pharmaceutical manufacturing industry as a key driver of national health security and economic growth.
Nana Tobbin said the volume of medicine imports continued to place significant pressure on foreign exchange reserves while exposing the country to global supply chain disruptions and fluctuating medicine prices.
“Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent international market shocks have reinforced the need for Ghana to build a resilient pharmaceutical sector capable of researching, developing and manufacturing quality medicines locally,” the association said in a separate statement.
It said central to this year's discussions would be the pursuit of pharmaceutical sovereignty through innovation.
“PMAG believes increased investment in research, technology transfer and product development will enable local manufacturers to expand beyond the production of basic generic medicines into vaccines, specialised formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Such investments are expected to enhance Ghana's competitiveness within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while positioning the country as a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in West Africa,”the statement added.
Conference
The conference will also focus on developing the right skills required to sustain a globally competitive pharmaceutical industry.
Industry leaders will advocate collaboration between universities, technical and vocational education institutions, manufacturers and regulators to produce good manufacturing practice-ready pharmacists, quality assurance specialists, engineers and regulatory professionals who can meet international manufacturing standards and support industry expansion.
The statement said the conference would also discuss the creation of a robust industrial value chain that supported pharmaceutical production from raw material sourcing and packaging to manufacturing, distribution and patient access.
It said PMAG believed that strengthening the interconnected sectors would create thousands of quality jobs, increase local value addition, reduce import dependence and improve access to affordable medicines for Ghanaians.
The programme for PMAG Day 2026 will feature a keynote address on the government's policy direction for local pharmaceutical manufacturing under the 24-Hour Economy agenda, alongside high-level panel discussions involving regulators, chief executives, development partners and investment agencies.
Profile
Established in 1999, the PMAG serves as the umbrella body for licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country.
Representing more than 30 pharmaceutical companies, PMAG provides direct employment for over 5,000 Ghanaians, promotes the production of safe, effective and affordable medicines through advocacy, capacity building and industry self-regulation.
