Central University, through its School of Pharmacy, in partnership with Ernest Chemist Limited, has secured a €250,000 grant under the PharmaVax Ghana programme to develop and validate a standardised herbal treatment for hypertension.
The grant was awarded under a competitive call for proposals jointly organised by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the German development agency GIZ, with eight projects selected from a total of 43 applications submitted by research institutions and industry partners across Ghana.
The Central University–Ernest Chemist partnership is one of eight research collaborations that will share a total of €2 million in funding aimed at accelerating the development of vaccines, medicines and innovative healthcare solutions in Ghana.
The project brings together the research expertise of Central University’s School of Pharmacy and the pharmaceutical manufacturing experience of Ernest Chemist Limited, creating a strong academia-industry collaboration focused on addressing one of Ghana’s major public health concerns—hypertension.
The partnership will work to develop and scientifically validate a standardised herbal treatment, with the ultimate goal of producing a safe, effective and locally developed therapeutic product for the Ghanaian and regional markets.
Beyond the financial support, the PharmaVax Ghana programme will provide technical assistance to help researchers and industry partners transform scientific discoveries into commercially viable health products.
The grants were presented at the Research Meets Manufacturing Award Ceremony held in Accra on 19 August 2026, co-hosted by the National Vaccine Institute and GIZ under the Pharmavax Ghana Programme, jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU).
For us at Central University, the award highlights the growing strength of its School of Pharmacy in conducting impactful research and building strategic partnerships with industry. For Ernest Chemist, it reinforces its longstanding commitment to pharmaceutical innovation and the development of locally produced health solutions.
The grant also exemplifies the value of collaboration between academia and industry in advancing research, strengthening Ghana’s pharmaceutical ecosystem and improving healthcare outcomes.
Through this partnership, Central University and Ernest Chemist are contributing to Ghana’s vision of building sustainable local capacity for the discovery, development and manufacture of medicines that address Africa’s health challenges.
