The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana has been awarded a $5.1 million grant from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a Japan-based pharmaceutical company. This grant is part of Takeda's 2026 Global CSR Programme, which aims to support initiatives that address various global health challenges. The KNUST project, named PharmAdapt, aims to equip pharmacists across Ghana with the tools needed to tackle health challenges driven by climate change.
PharmAdapt will be led by Professor Priscilla Kolibea Mante of KNUST's Department of Pharmacology. The project will be housed within KNUST's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, with Professor Edmund Ekuadzi and Professor Samuel Asare-Nkansah serving as Technical Portfolio Leads. The initiative seeks to prepare pharmacists with the knowledge and practical instruments needed to respond to climate-related health risks, including emergency preparedness, climate-responsive pharmaceutical care, and environmentally sustainable pharmacy practices.
The PharmAdapt project is designed to develop standards and frameworks that could be embedded into pharmacy practice nationally and eventually scaled across West Africa and beyond. According to Professor Mante, pharmacists have long been an underutilized resource in responding to climate-driven health crises. The project aims to address this gap by giving practitioners the systems and skills to contribute meaningfully to climate-resilient healthcare.
KNUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Christian Agyare welcomed the partnership, noting that the project would not only train pharmacists and prepare them for emergencies but also establish lasting standards that outlive the program itself. He added that practical tools developed through PharmAdapt could benefit health systems across the wider region. The project reflects KNUST's combined strengths in pharmaceutical sciences, health research, workforce development, and innovation.
The $5.1 million award to KNUST is part of Takeda's 2026 Global CSR Programme, under which the pharmaceutical company committed a combined $22.2 million to four initiatives worldwide. The other projects span Nepal, Honduras, Peru, Egypt, and Lebanon. KNUST's selection positions Ghana as a leader in addressing the intersection of climate change and public health.
The PharmAdapt project has the potential to make a significant impact on Ghana's healthcare system. By equipping pharmacists with the necessary tools and skills, the project aims to enhance the country's ability to respond to climate-related health challenges. The project's focus on developing standards and frameworks that can be scaled across West Africa and beyond also has the potential to benefit the wider region.
KNUST's achievement in securing the $5.1 million grant is a significant milestone for the university. The university's strengths in pharmaceutical sciences, health research, workforce development, and innovation made it an attractive partner for Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. The project's success will depend on the effective implementation of the PharmAdapt initiative and its ability to achieve its goals.
Key points
- KNUST secures $5.1m grant from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to build climate-resilient health systems in Ghana.
- The PharmAdapt project aims to equip pharmacists with tools to tackle health challenges driven by climate change.
- The project has the potential to benefit health systems across the wider region and position Ghana as a leader in addressing the intersection of climate change and public health.
