GIZ Ghana’s ‘Investing For Employment’ initiative will play a critical role in the country’s attempt to revamp and pharmaceutical industry in Ghana and also help reduce youth unemployment. ‘Investing For Employment (IFE Ghana)’ is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) which is being implemented by GIZ.

The initiative wants to support the pharmaceutical industry through Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy with 1 million to 10 million euros to help revamp, support and create more jobs in the pharmaceutical industry.

In the Chairman of Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, Pharm. Harrison Abutiate opening address, he stated that Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) is the unified voice of Pharma industry of Ghana and that the Chamber advocates, connects, inform and fight for pharmaceutical growth in Ghana.

He then went on to recap a meeting with Bank of Ghana (BOG) to deliberate on BOG’s credit referencing system since they chamber believes that dealing with credible clients will enhance our financial fortunes. He proceeded to welcome the Investing For Employment (IFE) team and thanked them for making time to meet members of the chamber to further explain and present on how members of the chamber can take advantage of this grant.

“GNCoP welcomes this collaboration with IFE to have this workshop on co-financing projects, so that our members will have a hands-on experience in sourcing for funds for their projects,” Pharm. Harrison Abutiate added.

The Team Lead for ‘Investing For Employment’, Mr. Ato Simpson, presented and explained to participants the processes involved with the application, the duration and how best his team can guide the chamber if they are ready to secure this grant.

“This will both empower Ghana’s determined Pharmaceutical Industry and also create more jobs within the industry. The country’s youth unemployment rate at 12% and underemployment rate at 50%, are both higher than the overall unemployment rates in Sub-Saharan African countries (World Bank, 2021),” Samuel Kwame Boadu, administrative officer and digital marketer for Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy remarked to the media team that came around after the event.

“In addition to the financial contribution, IFE will also be able to support selected grantees on a technical level, e.g., through consultancy or other services which may be needed to ensure a successful preparation and/or operational implementation of the project. The expenditures for such selective technical support services can be funded in addition to the agreed financing contribution,” Samuel Kwame Boadu concluded.

Country Focal Point -IFE Ghana, Mrs. Adwoa Larbi said her outfit will continue to equip and educate the chamber with the help needed to go through the grant process.

According to her, this workshop focuses on the integral formation of the chamber members acquiring the knowledge needed to go through the process.

“IFE GHANA has a role to this transformation agenda with a responsibility to find out what the pharma industry needs. This way, the Chamber can better equip with the knowledge needed to meet the grant requirements,” she explained.

The collaboration between Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy and Investing For Employment (IFE) focuses on helping the Chamber members go through the requirement process to be able to secure the grant which will revamp the industry whiles helping to promote employment.

However, she fears this will not be achieved if members worked in isolation and will be happy if the chamber work hand in hand to secure this grant.