Over 100 applicants from across Ghana have benefited from a specialized Flow Cytometry Workshop, organized as part of the activities marking 50 years of Centre’s Oku Ampofo Memorial (COAM) excellence in biomedical research and innovation.
The training served as a pre-conference event ahead of the 3rd Cowan Conference, focusing on enhancing research capacity in the field of life sciences.
Speaking at the opening session, Executive Director of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Prof. Alex Asase, highlighted that the workshop centered on flow cytometry, one of the most advanced technologies in biomedical research globally.
He noted that the initiative aims to equip staff and young researchers with hands-on practical experience, supported by mobilized sponsorship to strengthen capacity at the center.
Prof. Asase explained that both the pre- and post-conference sessions were also designed to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Oku Ampofo, founder of the center, whose contributions to medical research continue to inspire innovation in Ghana’s health sector.
Outlining the week’s activities, Prof. Asase revealed that the event would also feature exhibitions showcasing the center’s groundbreaking research and locally developed products, including anti-snake venom vaccines, developed as part of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized that the Government of Ghana has taken a step towards making the country a vaccine production hub in West Africa through the establishment of vaccine potency testing facilities to ensure safety and efficacy before public release.
Additionally, Prof. Asase disclosed that the center is currently embarking on snake farming initiatives to deepen research into local vaccine development ,a move he believes will significantly reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported vaccines and ease the national financial burden.
However, he pointed out key challenges facing the center, including limited human capacity, infrastructure, and advanced equipment, expressing optimism that these gaps could be bridged under the government’s 24-hour economy policy to boost national productivity in the biomedical sector.
Also addressing participants, Dr. Nana Ama Mireku-Gyimah, Part-time Technical Advisor at PharmaVaxGhana Programme of GIZ, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical production.
She disclosed that GIZ, through its CPM project, has allocated €33 million to strengthen Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector, with a particular focus on vaccine development and production, aligning with the national goal of positioning Ghana as a vaccine hub in West Africa.
The Flow Cytometry Workshop marks a major milestone in Cowan’s 50-year journey of scientific innovation, education, and contribution to Ghana’s healthcare advancement.
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