Feb 28- 2024
Following the ground breaking ceremony in June 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the invitation of his counterpart President Paul Kagame, arrived in Rwanda on 18th December, 2023 to attend the inauguration of the BioNTech Vaccine Manufacturing Plant in the Kigali Special Economic Zone located at Masoro-Munini, Gasabo District.
The cutting-edge manufacturing facility for mRNA-based vaccines sits on approximately 30,000 square metres and came into being following an agreement with BioNTech, a renowned German biotechnology company. The facility was built after months of dedicated efforts, including the shipping and installation of BioNTainers—facilities designed for manufacturing a variety of mRNA-based vaccines.
The plant is specifically tailored for the production of mRNA and formulated bulk drug products and is expected to kick-start production with 50 million vaccines intended for people residing in member states of the African Union to support their access to novel medicines.
President Akufo-Addo and President Kagame also seized the opportunity to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral ties between Ghana and Rwanda in various areas including vaccine manufacturing.
H.E Damptey Bediako Asare, Ghana’s ambassador to Kenya with concurrent accreditation to Rwanda attended the event. Other high-level dignitaries present at the launch included President Macky Sall of Senegal, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat among others.
Click here for some photos of the event.