The European Union (EU) has stated that Ghana is being considered as a possible manufacturing hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Africa.
Plans to remove Ghana from the list of countries that are deficient anti-money laundering and terrorism financing have also been announced by the EU
The decision to remove Ghana from the list followed a two-day working visit by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankw Akufo-Addo to Brussels, Belgium between May 19 and 20, 2021.
A statement by the Acting Director of Communications, Office of the President of Ghana, Eugene Arhin, said Akufo-Addo met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel where he intimated the EU with efforts of his government in implementing the action plan of the International Country Risk Guide.
The statement said the EU acknowledged the efforts made by Ghana in this regard and has decided to remove the country from the list of the countries that are deficient anti-money laundering and terrorism financing.
“It is expected that the Financial Action Task Force, the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, will, in June 2021, announce that Ghana has been taken off its list of high risk, third world countries with strategic deficiencies in Anti-money Laundering and Countering of Terrorism Financing,” the statement added.
The statement also said the Vice President of the European Commission, Vadis Dombrovskis, indicated the selection of Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Africa.
This, according to the commission follows the initiatives already taken by the Government of Ghana towards the domestic manufacturing of vaccines.
The statement said taskforce teams from the EU and Ghana will meet shortly to discuss modalities towards the realization of this initiative.
The Ghanaian president had already secured one hundred and seventy million euros (€170 million) from EIB for the establishment of the Development Bank, Ghana.