Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin, Chief Executive Officer of Entrance Pharmaceuticals
Chief Executive Officer of Entrance Pharmaceuticals, Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin, has called for the establishment of a local industrial starch processing plant as part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
He argued that such an initiative would significantly reduce the industry’s dependence on imported raw materials, particularly maize starch, which is used extensively in drug formulation, and help the country retain much-needed foreign exchange.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a working visit by the Minister of Trade, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare on November 21, 2025, Dr Tobbin underscored the strategic importance of building a domestic starch plant to support the long-term growth of local pharmaceutical companies.
“All pharmaceutical industries and factories import common maize starch in huge quantities. We are urging the government, through the Ministry of Trade, to set up a plant in Ghana so that the foreign exchange we send to India and China will remain in our country. This is something we would like our President to support,” he said.
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Dr Tobbin added that the availability of locally produced pharmaceutical-grade starch would lower production costs, improve competitiveness, and position Ghana as a key player in Africa’s growing pharmaceutical market.
He further noted that the ripple effect of such an investment would create jobs, enhance value addition within the agricultural sector, and contribute to economic stability.
He emphasised that with the right level of support and collaboration between government and industry, Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector has the potential not only to meet domestic demand but also to expand its footprint across the West African sub-region.
MA
