Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has been admitted to the Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF), a World Health Organization (WHO)-led network dedicated to strengthening clinical trial systems worldwide.
The development places Ghana among a growing group of countries working with the WHO and international health partners to enhance research standards, promote ethical clinical trials, and deepen collaboration in health research.
Announcing the milestone, the NVI’s Acting Director of Research and Development, Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo, said the membership would provide Ghana with valuable opportunities for technical support, knowledge exchange, and capacity building at no financial cost to the institute.
“There are no financial obligations. Ghana will benefit from the network of support for collaborations on clinical trials and capacity strengthening,” he said.
Prof. Essien-Baidoo explained that Ghana’s application followed a recommendation from the WHO after the country successfully hosted a stakeholder workshop on clinical trial systems.
The Global Clinical Trials Forum was established under the WHO after member states at the World Health Assembly agreed on the need for stronger and more coordinated support for clinical trial infrastructure across the globe.
Rather than operating as a standalone organisation, the forum serves as a collaborative platform that brings together governments, regulators, research institutions, healthcare providers, patient groups and industry stakeholders to share expertise, promote best practices and strengthen clinical research systems.
Through its membership, the NVI will gain access to a global network of health authorities, researchers and technical experts, creating new opportunities for collaboration while helping Ghana strengthen its own clinical trial ecosystem.
The institute will also participate in technical discussions and working groups, contribute expertise in vaccines and public health, align national policies with WHO standards, and support knowledge-sharing efforts at both national and regional levels.
Ghana has further indicated its readiness to take an active role in shaping policy and technical discussions within the forum, particularly on issues affecting low- and middle-income countries.
The forum seeks to streamline clinical trial approval processes while helping member countries strengthen research capacity within their healthcare systems. Participating institutions receive quarterly updates on the forum’s activities and take part in a comprehensive review every two years to evaluate progress, identify challenges, and set future priorities.
The NVI’s admission comes as the institute pushes ahead with its long-term vision of establishing vaccine manufacturing in Ghana.
Under the leadership of Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, the institute aims to produce its first locally manufactured vaccine by 2027 and achieve full-scale local vaccine production by 2030.
Membership of the Global Clinical Trials Forum is expected to advance these efforts by giving Ghana access to technical expertise, training opportunities and international partnerships that will enhance the quality, safety and ethical standards of clinical trials conducted in the country.