The Dossier Assessor Training project, a component of the Institutional and Technical Strengthening initiative for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) staff has been successfully concluded. The training project, carried out under the auspices of GIZ, was designed to empower FDA staff with essential skills and knowledge in regulation of vaccine manufacturing in Ghana.
A total of 41 trainees have earned certificates signifying their completion of three distinct training modules. This comprehensive 3.1 million euro project was jointly funded by the German government and the European Union.
The closing ceremony for this significant event was held at the Tomreik Hotel in East Legon, Accra. During the training, beneficiaries were equipped with the necessary expertise in the quality assessment, clinical evaluation, and non-clinical assessment of vaccine dossiers.
This initiative was made possible through a collaborative effort between the European Union and GIZ. Selected personnel from the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority received training in the inspection of vaccine manufacturing facilities, as well as clinical and non-clinical assessments of vaccine dossiers.
Dr. Delese Darko, CEO of the FDA, expressed her profound gratitude to the European Union and GIZ for their unwavering support of these training programs. She emphasized that these initiatives represent significant progress toward Ghana’s goal of achieving vaccine self-sufficiency and strengthening its global role in public health.
The closing ceremony, held at the Tomreik Hotel in East Legon.
Timothy Dolan, Eco-Trade Team Lead of the European Union in Ghana reiterated the vital importance of continued support from the European Union and GIZ for Ghana’s vaccine roadmap. He emphasized the urgency of meeting short-term targets and highlighted the need for sustained commitment, partnerships, and robust pharmaceutical, regulatory, and governance systems to develop a high-quality manufacturing capability.
Mr. Dolan also credited the collaboration between the FDA, GIZ, and the EU for enhancing the FDA’s vaccine lot release, establishing a regulatory platform, and forging valuable relationships with other African regulatory authorities in the realm of vaccine regulation.
About the Project
In August 2022, GIZ launched the Hands-on Assessor Training Program to bolster the FDA’s capacity in terms of facilities and personnel, ensuring the production of locally manufactured vaccines that meet international standards. This 3.1 million euro project was jointly funded by the EU and Germany.
The Hands-on Assessor Training is one of several programs that FDA Ghana intends to undertake to enhance its human resource capacity for vaccine regulation. The training consists of three modules: a 15-day quality assessors training, a 15-day clinical assessors training, and a 10-day non-clinical assessors training.