The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Biosafety Authority, Kwame Dei Asamoah Okyere, has said Ghana must urgently strengthen its biosafety regulatory framework to realise its goal of becoming Sub‑Saharan Africa’s premier hub for vaccine research, development and manufacturing.

Speaking to the media at a workshop on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Mr Asamoah Okyere emphasised that while national discussions often focus on medicine safety, biosafety oversight remains a critical yet overlooked pillar in securing vaccine self‑sufficiency, a lesson reinforced by the COVID‑19 pandemic.

He explained that modern biopharmaceuticals such as viral‑vector vaccines, gene therapies and biosimilars present unique biosecurity and biosafety risks, stating that these go beyond basic product quality and require specialised regulation.

“Scientific advancement must always be accompanied by effective and efficient regulatory oversight that protects human health and the environment while promoting innovation and investment,” Mr Asamoah Okyere stated.

To streamline oversight, the NBA has partnered with the Food and Drugs Authority through a series of bilateral meetings and roundtables, he added.

The CEO noted these discussions use vaccines as a primary model for clinical trial authorisations, market approvals and facility licensing, drawing best practice from regulatory systems in the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

Mr Asamoah Okyere said the NBA, established under the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831), is legally mandated to ensure the safe handling and use of genetically modified organisms and modern biotechnologies across agriculture, healthcare and industry.

He urged stakeholders to prioritise public health, transparent science and public trust to establish Ghana as a resilient, self‑reliant leader in West African vaccine innovation.