Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin urged the government to help recover money owed by Sahel nations
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) has called on the government to take decisive steps to recover millions of dollars owed by some West African countries for medicines supplied by Ghanaian companies.
The association warns that continued delays in payment could cripple local pharmaceutical businesses and derail Ghana’s ambition of becoming a pharmaceutical hub in the subregion.
Speaking to the media in Accra on November 6, 2025, Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin, Executive Chairman of the Tobinco Group of Companies, revealed that debts owed by several Sahel countries have become a major concern for local manufacturers.
“The president is talking about Ghana becoming a pharmaceutical hub. So, if this is to be realized, those of us who have started supplying and distributing products to the sub-region expect that the money owed to us, which is substantial, should be recovered. I cannot mention the exact figures here, as it is not about individual debtors in the country,” he said.
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He clarified that the debts are owed by governments in the region, not private individuals.
“We are talking about the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and other countries in the sub-region, except Nigeria,” Dr Tobbin stated.
He appealed to the Ghanaian government to intervene at the highest level to facilitate the recovery of the funds, suggesting that collaboration between heads of state could help resolve the issue.
“So, if our president or Parliament can support us in any way to get our money, perhaps by coordinating with their counterparts in these countries, we would be very grateful,” he added.
Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane on his part, acknowledged the challenges faced by the local pharmaceutical industry and promised that the Committee would engage key stakeholders to find a sustainable solution.
“He’s highlighted a few challenges. I hope that we sit down with the government, the sector minister, and senior officials at Flagstaff House,” he said.
Dr Nawaane added that discussions would focus on ways to strengthen the sector and expand its capacity for investment and growth.
“We will review all these issues and explore how best we can support him to expand both horizontally and vertically in his investments,” he noted.
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The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana calls on the government to recover millions owed for medicines supplied to the Sahel, citing risks to the local industry. Health Committee Chairman Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane says the Committee will engage relevant stakeholders to… pic.twitter.com/hq9D3P0gyC
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