Vaccine Safety Oversight in Ghana: An Evaluation of the Food and Drugs Law and Public Health Act

This study critically analyzes Ghana’s Food and Drugs Law 1992 (PNDCL 305B) alongside the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851) to evaluate their regulatory frameworks in managing vaccine safety and addressing vaccine hesitancy. Employing the CREAC method, the analysis highlights how these laws balance the dual imperatives of ensuring public access to vaccines and enabling effective outbreak responses, while simultaneously safeguarding individual rights through provisions for exemptions and exclusions. The paper identifies key legislative amendments and policy recommendations that promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in vaccine regulation, emphasizing minimal restrictions to foster public trust. Central to this framework is the institutionalization of Phase IV post-market surveillance to monitor vaccine safety over time. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of proactive rights jurisprudence in guiding judicious state action, which is vital for encouraging vaccine acceptance and reducing resistance