Ghana extends LePIP deadline to attract packaging, manufacturing, logistics investment

GHANA – The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme Secretariat has extended the deadline for prospective tenants of the Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park to November, seeking to attract pharmaceutical manufacturers alongside packaging and logistics providers.

The 2,000-acre industrial ecosystem, beginning with a 40-hectare pilot platform in the Osudoku/Ningo Prampram enclave, is designed to provide an integrated environment for pharmaceutical production. 

Planned infrastructure includes warehousing, cold-chain facilities, and centralised quality-control laboratories. 

For packaging suppliers, this concentration of manufacturers creates a dedicated market for blister packs, cartons, labels, and sterile containers. 

Establishing local production of these materials allows drug makers to shorten supply chains, reduce reliance on imported packaging components, and better control validation and compliance processes.

Shared Facilities Ease Entry Barriers for Support Services

The Secretariat said the shared infrastructure model allows participants to access essential industrial services without developing every component independently. 

Reliable electricity, water supply, and environmental management systems are planned alongside logistics and digital infrastructure. 

This integrated approach is intended to attract logistics firms capable of managing temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical transport and distribution. 

By co-locating packaging and logistics operations with manufacturing, the park aims to create a seamless supply chain from raw material sourcing to finished product dispatch, potentially reducing transit times and spoilage risks.

Employment and Skills Development Extend Across Value Chain

The first phase is projected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs, with an estimated 30,000 additional jobs expected in subsequent phases. 

The statement noted that several thousand indirect employment opportunities are anticipated across manufacturing, packaging, logistics, engineering, research and related services. 

A Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, established in partnership with the University of Ghana, is projected to supply more than 1,000 skilled workers within its first five years. 

This workforce development is critical for packaging and logistics operations that require specialised knowledge of Good Distribution Practice and regulatory documentation.

Expression of Interest Deadline Set for October 31

The extension gives eligible pharmaceutical manufacturers and other businesses additional time to submit Expressions of Interest for the Greater Accra Region park. 

While the initiative presents an opportunity to build domestic capacity and reduce exposure to imported medicine disruptions, its success will depend on attracting manufacturers and mobilising the required investment. 

For the packaging sector, the park represents a significant opportunity to establish dedicated production facilities serving a captive pharmaceutical market, providing specialized formats and compliance-ready supply chains tailored to local and regional export requirements.

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