Ghana has been selected as one of eight countries worldwide to pilot a World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmarking tool designed to assess and strengthen institutional capacity for conducting high-quality clinical trials.
The pilot, being led in Ghana by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), is aimed at helping institutions identify their strengths and capacity gaps in systems required to support ethical, efficient and scientifically rigorous clinical research.
According to the NVI, the draft WHO benchmarking tool goes beyond simply measuring the number of clinical trials conducted by an institution. Instead, it provides a structured and evidence-based framework for assessing the systems and capabilities that underpin clinical research.
The framework covers seven functional areas, including patient engagement, scientific research design, regulatory oversight, data management, trial operations, leadership and infrastructure. It comprises 32 functional objectives and 112 specific outcomes.
13 Ghanaian institutions participate
As part of the pilot, the NVI and WHO organised a training workshop in Ho in the Volta Region, where institutional teams were introduced to the benchmarking tool and prepared to conduct self-assessments.
A comprehensive assessment exercise was subsequently conducted from August 10 to 13, 2026, involving 13 institutions across Ghana.
The participating institutions included the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana Medical Centre, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Revna Bioscience, University of Cape Coast and Enchi Government Hospital, Dodowa Health Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, KNUST’s Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, KNUST IVI–Agogo, Kintampo Health Research Centre, University for Development Studies and Navrongo Health Research Centre.
The NVI stressed that the exercise is not intended to rank institutions against one another. Rather, it is designed to support capacity development, institutional learning and continuous improvement across Ghana’s clinical research ecosystem.
NVI Chief Executive Officer Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey said the initiative also forms part of Ghana’s broader ambitions in vaccine development and manufacturing.
“We are starting with fill-and-finish as a practical entry point, with the long-term goal of full end-to-end manufacturing,” he said.
He added that the expertise represented by the participating institutions would be critical in identifying institutional capability gaps and developing strategies to address them.
Strengthening Ghana’s health research capacity
The initiative comes as Ghana seeks to strengthen its health and scientific infrastructure and expand its ability to conduct clinical research and participate in vaccine manufacturing.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah said developing strong institutional systems would be essential to achieving greater health sovereignty.
She noted that research conducted outside Africa does not always adequately reflect the health needs and realities of African populations.
“True health sovereignty depends on the less visible groundwork—systems, policy, and institutional capacity—that precedes actual vaccine production,” she said.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah also highlighted the potential for greater regional cooperation, suggesting that African countries could develop specialised capabilities and collaborate as centres of excellence rather than attempting to independently manufacture every health product.
WHO Technical Officer for Integrated Service Delivery Dr Angela Ackon said the benchmarking exercise would give Ghanaian institutions a structured and evidence-based approach to evaluating their capabilities and identifying areas for improvement.
“This benchmarking exercise gives Ghanaian institutions a structured, evidence-based way to understand their own capabilities and chart a clear path for improvement,” she said.
She said the WHO was proud to support the NVI and the Government of Ghana in the initiative.
The findings from the 13 participating institutions are expected to help identify common capacity gaps, inform future investments and guide national priorities in clinical research and health innovation.
As one of eight countries participating in the global pilot, Ghana will also contribute to the refinement of the WHO benchmarking tool ahead of its potential wider adoption.
The initiative could further strengthen Ghana’s position as a clinical research destination in Africa, while supporting the country’s longer-term ambitions in vaccine development, manufacturing and health sovereignty.
