•Ghana will spend US$137.15million to procure COVID-19 vaccines intended to inoculate 7.6 million people
•Ghana has projected to vaccinate 20 million of its population by the end of 2021
Parliament has approved a loan request by government from the World Bank to allocate an additional US$200 million to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic, Joy News has reported.
According to details of a report by the Finance Committee of the House, government will out of the total allocation spend US$137.15million to procure COVID-19 vaccines intended to inoculate 7.6 million of the Ghanaian population.
“The committee was informed that each dose of the vaccine is estimated to cost US$10.55,” portions of the Committee’s report read.
“This financing would provide improved access to affordable and equitable COVID-19 vaccines, strengthen the system for effective deployment as well as enhance preparedness and response to the Ghana COVID-19 strategic preparedness and response programme,” it added.
The loan facility, the Committee’s report explained is aside a US$100 million and US$130 million loans taken from the World Bank back in 2020.
“This is aside US$100 million and US$130 million loans taken from the World Bank for the COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Plans 1 and 2 in 2020,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the Finance Committee’s report added portions of the loans will go towards social and health interventions primarily on the treatment of COVID-19 cases, contracting tracing regime amongst others.
Additionally, portions of the loan from the World Bank will also go toward supporting vulnerable groups in society.