Ghana has received a donation of 50,000 COVID-19 vaccines from India as part of efforts to curb COVID-19. This comes after the nation took delivery of 600,00 AstraZeneca vaccines last week.
A delegation led by Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Heath Minister designate, jointly received the vaccines. The India delegation was also led by Mr Sugandh Rajaram, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and People of Ghana, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey, expressed gratitude to the Government of India. She thanked particularly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the kind and timely donation of the 50,000 doses of vaccines.
“The donation, coming just a few days after the historic delivery of 600,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines to Ghana, under the COVAX Initiative, reflects the very cordial and fraternal relations between Ghana and India.
“Furthermore, it underscores the mutual commitment of our two governments to work in solidarity and partnership to address common challenges. This including the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Ayorkor Botchway
Acquisition of More Vaccines
She then assured Ghanaians that, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Government were leaving no stone unturned. This, she said, was in the quest to acquire at least, 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to effectively vaccinate.
“Indeed, we are resolute in our determination and will utilise both bilateral and multilateral arrangements to attain this objective.
“I will thus, encourage friends and partners of Ghana to continue rallying support for Government’s efforts.”
Ayorkor Botchway
She thanked the Government of India and the High Commissioner and his team for facilitating the speedy arrival of the much needed AstranaZeneca vaccines.
Additionally, she urged all Ghanaians to continue to stay safe as the nation fights the pandemic together with them.
Arrival of First Vaccine Doses In Ghana
The Government of Ghana on February, 24, 2021 took delivery of 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine made by Serum Institute of India.
This was the first consignment of the vaccine acquired through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) which Ghana among 92 countries have signed unto. The Healtth Ministry and the Ministry of Information, indicated that, the vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations. And this the nation has already seen it being rolled out.
Read Also: Ghana Receives 600,000 COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
President and Government Officials take Vaccine Jab
On the 1st of March, President Akufo- Addo, and his Vice Dr. Bawiumia together with their spouses took the vaccine.
President Akufo-Addo together with the First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo took their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday March 1,2021.
They took their first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
The Vice President and the Second lady, Samira Bawumiah also took their shots at the Police Hospital in Accra as part of efforts to assure the public that the vaccine was safe for use.
