The Africa Health Collaborative in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), has taken the third cohort of its Medicines Counter Assistant (MCA) training programme on an industrial field trip to Poku Pharma Limited in Kumasi, giving trainees practical exposure to pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality assurance.
The annual industrial visit forms part of the MCA curriculum and is designed to bridge classroom instruction with practical experience, preparing trainees for careers in pharmaceutical service delivery.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Joseph Kwasi Adu, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST, said industrial exposure is an essential component of the programme because it enables participants to observe medicine manufacturing beyond the classroom.
"Participants are introduced to pharmaceutical care, the safe handling of medicines and industrial pharmacy during their training. The field trip gives them the opportunity to observe the entire manufacturing process from raw materials through production to finished products so they can better appreciate how quality medicines are produced," he said.
Dr. Adu said Poku Pharma Limited has remained an important industry partner by providing experiential learning opportunities for both MCA trainees and pharmacy students.
During the tour, trainees visited the production floor, quality control laboratory and packaging units, where they observed manufacturing processes, quality assurance procedures and regulatory standards governing pharmaceutical production.
Leading the tour, Mr. Samuel Boahene Ababio, Quality Assurance Officer at Poku Pharma Limited, explained the rigorous quality systems that ensure medicines are safe and effective before reaching patients.
"We walked the trainees through every stage of production, from receiving raw materials to processing, in-process quality checks and final packaging," he said.
"Quality is built into every stage of production. We cannot afford to leave anything to chance because the medicines we produce are intended to improve people's health. If the product itself is compromised, then we have failed in our responsibility."
For many participants, the visit transformed theoretical lessons into practical understanding.
Ms. Juliana Yampusu said the experience strengthened her confidence in Ghana's pharmaceutical industry and the quality of locally manufactured medicines.
"The trip has given me greater confidence in medicines produced locally. Having seen the processes and quality standards involved, I can confidently recommend and dispense Ghanaian medicines knowing they meet high standards," she said.
She said the industrial exposure had also inspired her long-term career ambitions.
"This field trip has bridged the gap between theory and practice. It has motivated me to establish my own over-the-counter (OTC) medicine shop and eventually pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree."
Mr. Michael Osei Bonsu said the visit reshaped his understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
"I previously thought medicine production was a straightforward process, but I now appreciate that it involves multiple quality and safety checks at every stage," he said.
"The classroom gave us the theoretical knowledge, but seeing tablets and syrups being manufactured, tested and packaged brought everything to life."
He said the strict hygiene requirements before entering production areas and the extensive batch documentation maintained throughout the manufacturing process demonstrated the industry's commitment to patient safety.
"Industrial exposure complements classroom learning. It gives us the confidence to apply what we have learned in real healthcare settings," he added.
Another trainee, Ms. Abigail Attipoe, said the visit exceeded her expectations by highlighting the critical role documentation plays in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
"Before visiting Poku Pharma, I expected to see mainly how medicines were produced and packaged. What surprised me most was the level of documentation involved at every stage of production," she said.
"Seeing how Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Batch Manufacturing Records (BMRs) are used to monitor and verify every process changed my perspective. Nothing is left to memory or assumption; every step is documented and validated."
Story and Photos: Emmanuel Offei
