National Vaccine Institute spending probe ordered by Parliament

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed Ghana’s Ministry of Health to investigate GH¢13 million spent by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) on training, seminars, and conferences during 2025.

The directive follows an Auditor-General’s report revealing that the NVI’s financial position shifted from a GH¢36 million profit to a GH¢21 million loss within the same financial year. PAC Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare questioned the scale of the expenditure, describing the amount spent on conferences and seminars as high for a single year.

NVI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey defended the spending, stating the investment is essential to building Ghana’s vaccine ecosystem and domestic manufacturing capabilities. He explained that the funds supported partnerships with eight universities and covered technical assistance for researchers, manufacturers, and regulators. Dr. Sodzi-Tettey noted that vaccine manufacturing is a complex, capital-intensive process and that addressing the current lack of technical expertise is a priority for the Institute.