NVI CEO defends GH¢13m spending on training, workshops and conferences

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute defended the Institute's expenditure of GH¢13 million on training, workshops, and conferences in 2025, emphasizing the critical importance of these activities to its mandate. This defense came after concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee following the Auditor-General's report on the Institute's financial downturn, which saw the Institute's profit drop from 36 million Ghana cedis to a loss of 21 million cedis for the financial year.

During a committee appearance, Dr Sodzi-Tettey explained that much of the Institute's work involves enhancing the expertise of researchers, manufacturers, and regulators to bolster Ghana's vaccine industry development. The Institute's mandate necessitates significant investment in training and knowledge-sharing activities, as the country's vaccine ecosystem lacks the technical capacity needed for local vaccine manufacturing.

Dr Sodzi-Tettey elaborated that the Institute's activities extend beyond traditional training programs, encompassing efforts to develop expertise across all stages of vaccine research, production, and regulation. He highlighted partnerships with universities, manufacturers, and regulators, underscoring that these collaborations could be categorized as training, seminars, and conferences in the Institute's financial records, contributing to the substantial expenditure recorded.

Dr Sodzi-Tettey acknowledged that developing vaccine manufacturing capacity is a complex, costly endeavor, given the country's weak foundation in this area. He pointed to vaccine manufacturing as a critical weakness within the vaccine ecosystem and cited the need for experts from foreign countries, such as India, to conduct specific tests and support animal studies.

Despite recognizing the potential of young local scientists, Dr Sodzi-Tettey stressed that formal education alone is insufficient for the specialized expertise required in vaccine production. He emphasized the capital-intensive nature of vaccine manufacturing and the necessity of continuous training and capacity building to address the gaps in technical skills and infrastructure necessary for local vaccine manufacturing.

Additionally, the CEO mentioned community engagement as part of the Institute's mandate, aiming to assess public understanding and acceptance of locally produced vaccines to build trust and confidence in domestic vaccine development efforts.