Meet the board and management team steering NVI's mission for Ghana.
The Governing Board provides strategic oversight and ensures NVI fulfils its mandate to Ghana.
Hon. Charles Akwasi Agbeve is a Senior Public Servant with extensive working experience in Health Economics, Health Insurance and Health Policies. He holds a first Degree in Mathematics BSc (Hons) and a Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast, a Second Degree in MBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana Business School and an MA ( Economic Policy Management) from the Economics Department of the University of Ghana.
He taught as a Mathematics teacher at Ghanatta Senior High School for 2 years before joining Ghana Aluminium Products Limited (GHANAL) as a Commercial Manager for 5 years.
Hon Agbeve was also the District Manager for the Adaklu Anyigbe District Health Insurance Office and was responsible for the Agotime Ziope District and Adaklu District . He was later transfered to head the Ho Municipal Health Insurance Office as the Municipal Manager and was responsible for the Ho West District and Ho Municipal.
It was during his time at the NHIA that the Scheme was changed from a Mutual Scheme (ACT 650) to an Authority (ACT 852). This saw a major transformation of the NHIS and an improvement on its Service Delivery to its Clients and Service Providers.
Hon Agbeve was elected to represent the people of Agotime Ziope Constituency in 2016 and has since represented his people to date.
In Parliament , He is a Member of the Select Committee on Health, the Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Local Government and a Member on the Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism.
His background in Health Economics and experience in Health Financing has seem him drafted into the Committees such as Ghana's Roadmap to Existing GAVI and attending International Conferences on Health Financing at the WAHO in Lome and the 75th and 76th Sessions of WHA , in Geneva.
His background in Health Economics and experience in Health Insurance coupled with a career in Legislation, Governance and Politics makes him versatile and able to build golden bridges across disciplines.
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi‑Tettey is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) of Ghana. He is a public health physician and global health leader with extensive experience in health systems strengthening, quality improvement, and institutional leadership across Africa and the Middle East.
Prior to his appointment at NVI, Dr. Sodzi‑Tettey served as Vice President for Global Delivery at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a leading international non-profit organisation based in Boston, United States. In this role, he provided strategic, technical, and operational leadership for IHI’s work across Africa and the Middle East, and oversaw large-scale health systems strengthening programmes supported by partners including USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His portfolio included initiatives in maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, patient safety, immunisation quality improvement, and post-crisis health system recovery.
Dr Sodzi‑Tettey previously led Ghana’s nationally recognised Project Fives Alive!, a large-scale quality improvement programme implemented in the majority of public hospitals and sub-districts, contributing to significant reductions in facility-based child mortality. He has also supported health system reform and rebuilding efforts in several countries, including Ethiopia and Liberia.
He trained at the University of Ghana Medical School and the University of Ghana School of Public Health, is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Executive Education, and a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare. Dr Sodzi‑Tettey has served in senior leadership and governance roles, including as Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association, Chair of the Nyaho Hospital Board, and a member of the Boards of the National Health Insurance Authority and the University of Health and Allied Sciences. In 2020, he became the first African elected to the Board of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare.
He is the recipient of the Ghana Medical Association’s Special Commendation Award for meritorious service and multiple academic distinctions. As CEO of NVI, Dr Sodzi‑Tettey leads Ghana’s national efforts to strengthen vaccine security, advance local vaccine manufacturing, and support sustainable, equitable access to vaccines in Ghana and the wider region.
Mrs. Frederica S. Bukari is a distinguished Chief State Attorney with nearly three decades of exemplary service at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice. She is a highly accomplished legislative drafting expert and legal practitioner, recognized for her pivotal role in shaping Ghana’s legal and regulatory framework.
Her core expertise lies in drafting Bills and subsidiary legislation, including legislative instruments, constitutional instruments, executive instruments, and bye-laws for both central and local government institutions. She has extensive experience in preparing explanatory memoranda, revising laws, editing legislative texts, and providing strategic legal and policy advice to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Mrs. Bukari also plays a vital role in supporting Parliament in the enactment and amendment of legislation, while contributing to policy formulation through the preparation of Cabinet memoranda.
Over the course of her career, she has been instrumental in drafting landmark legislation across diverse sectors, including disability rights, children’s rights, intellectual property, taxation, labour, health, pensions, education, fisheries, and national identity systems. Her work has had a lasting impact on governance and institutional development in Ghana.
Beyond her drafting responsibilities, Mrs. Bukari represents the Attorney-General on several Boards, Councils, and Committees, where she contributes her legal expertise to strengthen governance structures and advance institutional growth.
She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana, having been called to the Bar in 1996 after completing her professional legal training at the Ghana School of Law. She is also a proud member of the Ghana Bar Association and the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel.
Mr. Kofi Addo is a senior public sector leader and serves as a Board Member of the National Vaccine Institute. He is currently Director of Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, where he provides strategic leadership on Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda.
With more than 25 years of experience in public service, he has extensive expertise in economic and industrial policy formulation, investment promotion, regulatory reform, public‑private dialogue mechanisms, and economic transformation initiatives, including the One District One Factory programme.
Mr. Addo previously served as Ghana’s Trade Attaché in the United Kingdom, leading trade and investment promotion efforts and representing Ghana’s commercial interests. He has also played a key role in the implementation of major development programmes supported by international financial institutions. His experience in trade, industry, and policy coordination supports NVI’s mandate to advance vaccine manufacturing and industrial capacity development.
Mr. Clifford E. Frimpong is the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, responsible for Conformity Assessment, and serves as a member of the Board of the National Vaccine Institute.
He brings over 30 years of experience across standardisation, conformity assessment, and metrology, which form core pillars of national quality infrastructure. His expertise spans quality management systems, environmental management, occupational health and safety, food safety management, laboratory quality management systems, quality assurance, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).
Mr. Frimpong has led training, implementation, and auditing of international management system standards and has supported institutions and companies across Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana, Legon, and contributes significant technical and regulatory knowledge to the governance of vaccine development and manufacturing standards.
Kwamena Essilfie Quaison is a senior public policy professional with long-standing experience
in science, technology, and environmental governance. He is the Director of Science and
Technology at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, where he leads the
development, coordination, and review of national science and technology policies to support
Ghana’s development goals.
In this role, Mr. Quaison works closely with government agencies, research institutions,
industry, and international partners to ensure that science and technology initiatives are
practical, well-coordinated, and aligned with national priorities. He places strong emphasis on
evidence-based policy, effective implementation, and measurable impact.
Mr. Quaison also plays a key role in national and international chemical and biological security.
He has served for over a decade as a member of Ghana’s national team under the European
Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence initiative.
He is Ghana’s national coordinator for the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological
Weapons Convention, leading inter-agency collaboration and engagement with international
bodies.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Quaison served as Deputy Director of Environment at the Ministry,
where he headed the Oil and Gas Unit. He led the development of environmental policies and
regulatory frameworks for Ghana’s petroleum sector and oversaw environmental impact
assessments for major oil and gas projects.
In addition to his ministerial work, Mr. Quaison holds advanced training in oil and gas policy,
environmental management, biotechnology and biosafety, chemical safety, and public
administration, with an academic foundation in chemistry and biology. His career reflects a
strong commitment to using science, policy, and international best practice to advance
sustainable development and national security in Ghana.
Emerita Professor Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi is a distinguished Immunologist, Parasitologist, and Global Public Health leader, and serves on the Board of the National Vaccine Institute. She is President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and the first female Emerita Professor in the Sciences at the University of Ghana.
With over four decades of experience in teaching, research, and institutional leadership, her work has focused on malaria immunity, vaccine development, immunodiagnostics, and molecular immunology. Her research contributions played a role in the development of the world’s first approved malaria vaccine, RTS,S.
Professor Quakyi has held academic and research appointments at the National Institutes of Health and Georgetown University in the United States, as well as the University of Ghana, where she established the Immunology Unit at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and served as the first female Dean of the School of Public Health. Her career includes extensive international collaborations and numerous honours, including fellowship of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences.
Profile coming soon.
Mr. Seth K. Seaneke is a pharmacist with over 25 years of experience in medical products regulation and a member of the Board of the National Vaccine Institute.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Pharmacy and a Graduate Diploma in Management from the International Professional Managers Association in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Ghana College of Pharmacists, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, a Certified Good Manufacturing Practice professional, and a Quality Auditor of the American Society of Quality.
Mr. Seaneke serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Health Products and Technologies Division of the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority. His responsibilities include oversight of enterprise risk management, quality management system implementation, and regulatory system strengthening. He has served as a focal point for international regulatory benchmarking processes that support quality and safety in medical products, bringing deep regulatory expertise relevant to vaccine oversight and public health assurance.
Dr. (Mrs) Sussana Boakye is a leadership development specialist, human resource consultant, and academic, and serves on the Board of the National Vaccine Institute.
She has over a decade of experience in tertiary education, teaching at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, the University of Ghana Business School, and Academic City University College. Her work focuses on leadership development, organisational capability, people strategy, and institutional effectiveness across both public and private sectors.
Dr. Boakye previously worked with Wells Fargo Bank and Corinthians College Inc. in the United States, gaining exposure to international corporate governance practices and performance-driven people systems. She is an active researcher with publications in peer‑reviewed journals and a strong advocate for evidence-based approaches to human capital development. Through her combined roles in teaching, consulting, and advisory services, she contributes strategic insight on governance, leadership, and organisational sustainability to the NVI Board.
Profile coming soon.
Dr. Bernice Makafui Brempong is a highly accomplished pharmacist, entrepreneur, and policy advisor with a track record of driving innovation in Ghana’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Currently serving as Presidential Staffer in Charge of Health and Pharmaceuticals at the Office of the President, she plays a critical role in shaping national health policies,overseeing pharmaceutical regulations, and advising on strategic healthcare initiatives to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system. Dr. Brempong holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship from University College of London as well as a Bachelor of Pharmacy from University of Ghana. Her academic background, combined with her practical experience, has enabled her to smoothly blend her healthcare expertise and business acumen to drive innovation in healthcare solutions. Prior to this, Dr. Brempong led several groundbreaking initiatives in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized through multiple awards, including:
• The Ghana Women of Excellence Silver Award [Healthcare-Pharmaceuticals] awarded by Her Excellency, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of Ghana (2025)
• 50 Most Influential Women in Ghana (2023)
• Africa Outstanding Professional Award (2022)
• Most Outstanding Female in Pharmaceuticals in Ghana (2022)
Beyond her corporate and advisory roles, Dr. Brempong has been actively involved in public health research, leading studies on vaccine manufacturing feasibility, medication shortages, and cardiovascular disease care. She has also played a key role in national policy development, notably contributing to the adoption of Ghana’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy as part of broader health and industrial transformation initiatives. With a passion for healthcare innovation and governance, she continues to champion policies that drive sustainable healthcare solutions in Ghana. A visionary leader and mentor, she is committed to empowering women and young professionals in science, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
Profile coming soon.
Profile coming soon.
Dedicated professionals leading the day-to-day operations of the National Vaccine Institute.
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi‑Tettey is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) of Ghana. He is a public health physician and global health leader with extensive experience in health systems strengthening, quality improvement, and institutional leadership across Africa and the Middle East.
Prior to his appointment at NVI, Dr. Sodzi‑Tettey served as Vice President for Global Delivery at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a leading international non-profit organisation based in Boston, United States. In this role, he provided strategic, technical, and operational leadership for IHI’s work across Africa and the Middle East, and oversaw large-scale health systems strengthening programmes supported by partners including USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His portfolio included initiatives in maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, patient safety, immunisation quality improvement, and post-crisis health system recovery.
Dr Sodzi‑Tettey previously led Ghana’s nationally recognised Project Fives Alive!, a large-scale quality improvement programme implemented in the majority of public hospitals and sub-districts, contributing to significant reductions in facility-based child mortality. He has also supported health system reform and rebuilding efforts in several countries, including Ethiopia and Liberia.
He trained at the University of Ghana Medical School and the University of Ghana School of Public Health, is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Executive Education, and a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare. Dr Sodzi‑Tettey has served in senior leadership and governance roles, including as Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association, Chair of the Nyaho Hospital Board, and a member of the Boards of the National Health Insurance Authority and the University of Health and Allied Sciences. In 2020, he became the first African elected to the Board of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare.
He is the recipient of the Ghana Medical Association’s Special Commendation Award for meritorious service and multiple academic distinctions. As CEO of NVI, Dr Sodzi‑Tettey leads Ghana’s national efforts to strengthen vaccine security, advance local vaccine manufacturing, and support sustainable, equitable access to vaccines in Ghana and the wider region.
Dr. Faisal Nuhu is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and a seasoned biomedical research scientist with a distinguished academic career at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. With more than a decade of experience spanning biomedical research, healthcare leadership, and academic development, Dr. Nuhu brings a rare combination of scientific rigor and strategic leadership to Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing transformation. He is deeply committed to strengthening scientific capacity in support of national and global public health priorities.
In his role at NVI, Dr. Nuhu supports the coordination and supervision of vaccine and biological research, contributes to the development of a robust research ecosystem, and advances partnerships with academic institutions, industry, and international organizations. He plays a key role in strengthening scientific capacity, supporting technology transfer initiatives, and ensuring that Ghana’s vaccine development and manufacturing efforts are grounded in rigorous research, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making.
At the National Vaccine Institute, he is instrumental in advancing Ghana’s national vaccine roadmap, coordinating strategic partnerships, and guiding the development of a sustainable, locally led vaccine production ecosystem. His work contributes to aligning Ghana’s vaccine ambitions with the African Union’s goal of producing 60% of the continent’s vaccines locally by 2040.
Dr. Nuhu’s academic research focuses on the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD), iron-deficiency anemia, and the cardiac and renal metabolic alterations associated with CKD. His studies demonstrated how regulated intravenous iron therapy can slow CKD progression, mitigate cardiovascular complications, and improve patient resilience.
He remains committed to leveraging science, innovation, and collaboration to advance global health equity, with a particular focus on translating research evidence into practical applications that strengthen health systems.
Naana Akosua Afrakoma Yawson is the Acting Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) at the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) of Ghana. She is a pharmacist by training with an additional professional background in law, bringing a strong multidisciplinary perspective to public sector policy formulation, regulatory coordination, procurement governance, and institutional performance management.
Mrs. Yawson has previously served with Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), where she gained extensive experience in regulatory systems, procurement processes, compliance, and public sector accountability. This background has equipped her with deep practical insight into the regulatory and supply chain dimensions that underpin vaccine development, manufacturing, and access.
At NVI, she provides strategic leadership for policy development, institutional planning, monitoring, and evaluation in line with the Institute’s statutory mandate under Act 1097 of 2023. Her work focuses on strengthening evidence based decision making, aligning national policies with regulatory and procurement requirements, and enhancing institutional readiness to support Ghana’s vaccine research, development, and manufacturing agenda.
Mrs. Yawson’s combined expertise in pharmaceutical practice, legal frameworks, and public procurement enables her to contribute effectively to policy coherence, regulatory alignment, and stakeholder engagement, particularly in areas related to technology transfer, partnerships, compliance, and performance oversight. Through her leadership, she plays a critical role in strengthening NVI’s internal governance systems, supporting vaccine self reliance, enhancing pandemic preparedness, and positioning Ghana as a credible and competitive regional hub for vaccine manufacturing.
Prof. Samuel Essien Baidoo is the Acting Director of Research and Development at the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) of Ghana. He is a highly accomplished biomedical scientist and academic leader with extensive expertise in laboratory medicine, immunology, infectious diseases, and health systems governance.
Prof. Essien Baidoo is an Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science. He holds a PhD in Laboratory Medicine and has undertaken postgraduate training in Health Law and Ethics and Health Services Administration, equipping him with a strong interdisciplinary perspective at the intersection of science, policy, and health system management.
He has an established research portfolio with numerous peer reviewed publications across immunology, clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, diagnostics, and public health, contributing to advances in diagnostic science, immune response research, and evidence based health practice in Ghana and internationally.
Prior to his secondment to NVI, Prof. Essien Baidoo held senior academic and institutional leadership positions, including serving as Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Health and Allied Sciences and as the founding Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Cape Coast. His leadership experience spans academic governance, research programme development, and capacity building.
At the National Vaccine Institute, Prof. Essien-Baidoo provides strategic leadership in coordinating and strengthening vaccine and biological research, supports the development of national research infrastructure, and advances partnerships that enable technology transfer and innovation. His work is central to building a robust national research ecosystem that underpins vaccine development, manufacturing readiness, and Ghana’s long term health security.
