Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has conveyed her chagrin over disproportionate access to Covid-19 vaccines between developing and developed countries.

According to her, the disparity in access stems from the unwillingness of developed countries to sell vaccines to developing countries.

Addressing a press briefing, Madam Botchwey further alleged that the advanced countries are targeting herd immunity before they make the vaccines available to the developing countries.

Additionally, she explained that this leaves developing countries in a vulnerable state. Justifying her stance, the foreign minister insisted that, “no one is safe until everyone is safe”.

Furthermore, she noted that it is pertinent for African countries to receive equal access to the vaccines. By this, Madam Botchwey explained that this is the only way the world can fight the global pandemic.

“It is a shame that as we speak, the vaccines that were promised to Africa with a population of 1.2 billion, we have not as a continent received anything more than 15 million.

“Ghana has received 600, 000 plus 350, 000 so that is less than 1 million from COVAX. We believe that it is important [that we get more] because no one is safe until everyone is safe. Today, most of the countries might have the funds to procure vaccines but you cannot get the vaccine to buy”.

Partnership with ECOWAS and regional institutions

That notwithstanding, Madam Botchwey expressed optimism over Ghana’s election unto United Nations Security Council. This, she revealed, will help in resolving the issue of disparity in vaccine distribution.

“Ghana being on the Security Council will enable us to strongly advocate for enhanced partnerships between the UN and regional institutions such as the African Union and ECOWAS for regional peace support operation and also to make sure that there is equitable burden-sharing, including financial support to prevent conflicts”.

Following Ghana’s election, Madam Botchwey revealed that Ghana will use its membership to pursue conflict prevention. Also, she noted the country will tackle post conflict reconstruction and strengthening of governance.

In lieu of this, Madam Botchwey stated that the country will leverage on “our previous and current experience as Chair of ECOWAS as well as our active membership of AU”.

World Bank’s support to Ghana

In April last year, the World Bank sought to provide $100 million to Ghana to assist the country in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. This financing package included $35 million in emergency support to help the country provide improved response systems.

Under this emergency package the World Bank intended to support the Government to help prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Ghana Emergency Preparedness and Response Project (EPRP).

The EPRP also sought to strengthen Ghana’s National Laboratories by providing robust systems for the early detection of COVID-19 cases and providing real time disease surveillance and reporting systems of outbreaks.

It also wanted to improve response systems by providing social and financial support and free health services to COVID-19 patients and families who are isolated or quarantined.