The 2027 Budget promises a medical tourism hub and a US$1bn push to produce essential medicines locally.

Published 13 Nov 2026, 14:11 GMT

3 min read

Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson at the dispatch box presenting the 2027 Budget in Parliament — Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson presents the 2027 Budget in Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026

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The 2027 Budget promises a private-sector-led medical tourism hub and a US$1 billion push to make most essential medicines in Ghana by 2030.

The Ghana Medical Tourism Hub will connect hotels, laboratories, pharmacies, specialist hospitals, diagnostics and rehabilitation services. In support, the government is offering serviced land, trunk infrastructure and targeted tax incentives.

The government projects that by 2030 the hub will lift arrivals, lengthen stays and raise both visitor spending and foreign-exchange earnings. According to the Statement, Ghanaian farmers, food suppliers, transport operators, craftspeople, artists, technology firms and event businesses must all share in the gains.

On medicines, the starting point is stark: between 70 and 75 per cent of the medicines Ghana needs are imported, at a cost of about US$500 million every year.

The US$1 billion pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing compact is meant to secure medicine supplies, generate skilled industrial jobs, save foreign exchange and create a pharmaceutical export platform for West Africa.

Manufacturing hubs will rise in the Eastern and Central Regions, where qualified Ghanaian and foreign manufacturers will gain entry via transparent leases and operating agreements, as the drive for pharmaceutical sovereignty gathers pace.

Changes to public procurement laws will mean state funds for medicines go only to Ghanaian-made products, wherever local supplies are sufficient in quantity and satisfy approved quality standards. Medicines produced in Ghana will become the default purchase for every cedi of public medicine spending.

The Statement points to India, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania, which all give local manufacturers preference in public medicine buying. It says Ghana will go further.

The Statement stresses that favouring local producers is no cover for poor quality, late delivery or bad value. All suppliers must keep Food and Drugs Authority registration and observe Good Manufacturing Practice standards, with manufacturers receiving support towards WHO prequalification.

In 2027 a state-owned special purpose vehicle will begin building the hubs.

What the Budget does not say

The Statement gives no cost, site or completion date for the medical tourism hub. It breaks down neither the US$1 billion for pharmaceuticals nor the funding for the hub.

It does not name the state-owned vehicle that will build the pharmaceutical hubs, and it gives no dates beyond the 2027 start of construction and the 2030 production target.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

2027 Budget: Ghana to build medical tourism hub, make 80% of medicines locally

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