BioNTech, a leading biotechnology company, has inaugurated its first manufacturing plant for mRNA vaccines in Africa in Rwanda’s capital of Kigali.
The Inauguration which was jointly carried out by Ghana, Rwanda and Senegal was graced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The Ghanaian President noted that the project is a reaffirmation of the continent’s commitment to the rest of the world that the construction of an end-to-end vaccine manufacturing facility, involving Rwanda, Senegal and Ghana, is truly underway.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recalled that when the nations met in Marburg in Germany in June 2022, there were some who secretly doubted Ghana, Rwanda and Senegal’s collective resolve to bring this all-important project, which will boost Africa’s capacity to be self-reliant in the production of vaccines, to fruition.
For Ghanaians, President Akufo-Addo noted that the Pan-African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative Project fits perfectly with our roadmap for domestic vaccine development and manufacturing. Adding that Ghana is playing her role to this end, “and we will work to make the Project a success.”
Mr Nana Addo further indicated that Ghana’s research institutions are undergoing capacity-building to be ready for the discovery and development of vaccines and other biologicals, and a consortium of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies, led by DEKS Vaccines Ltd., is working closely with BioNTech Rwanda, BioNTech Germany and kENUP to fill, finish and package the drug product in Ghana from the plant in Rwanda.
In October this year, at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Ghana received some €32 million from the European Union, to help realise the goal of being a hub for vaccine manufacturing.
The Inauguration comes after the German company signed deals in 2021 with Rwanda and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal to set up manufacturing sites on the continent. The facility construction was launched last year.
BioNTech on Course to Develop Prophylactic mRNA Vaccines
BioNTech indicated in a statement that it is on course to develop prophylactic mRNA vaccines targeting infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV, and is also focusing on diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential, including Mpox.
Located in Rwanda’s Economic Zone in Kigali, the facility could initially manufacture up to 50 million doses annually of a product that has an RNA process similar to that of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, according to the company.
The facility will be based on digitally enabled modular manufacturing units called the BioNTainer.
The containers for the first BioNTainer, which were set up in the manufacturing hall, arrived in Kigali in March this year.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, said the facility’s inauguration was a concrete result of strong political will and efficient partnership.
“The continent is committed to increasing the accessibility of vaccines and other medicines to be available to all Africans. We believe this facility will contribute to our collective vision of self-reliant Africa. Vaccine independence is key to our future capacity to prepare, respond and better recover from pandemics.”
Moussa Faki Mahamat
Africa imports 70 percent of its medicines and produces only 1 percent of its vaccines, according to data from the African Development Bank.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame described the inauguration as a major milestone for the continent in terms of achieving vaccine equity.
Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados as well as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, attended the inauguration.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also gave a speech at the inauguration ceremony of biotechnology company BioNTech’s first manufacturing plant for mRNA vaccines in Africa, emphasizing the importance of the plant to the continent.
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