MEDIA ADVISORY

African Medicines Agency (AMA) to Hold Second Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties in Kigali

WHAT: The African Medicines Agency (AMA) is set to hold its 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties (CoSP). This session takes place following the AMA Treaty's entry into force in 2021 and the official launch of the specialized agency at the new  the headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda. 

The specialized agency is mandated to enhance the capacity of State Parties and Regional Economic Communities to regulate medical products, thereby improving access to quality, safe, and effective medicines across the continent.

WHEN: 2^nd – 4^th June 2025

Time:  11:00hr

WHERE: Kigali Conference Centre

WHO: The State Parties (AU Member States that have ratified the AMA Treaty), members of the AMA Governing Board, and key stakeholders in African public health and regulatory affairs which include Africa CDC, AUDA NEPAD.

Key Speakers

• AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, H.E. Amb. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah
• Minister of Health for the Republic of Rwanda – Hon. Dr Sabin Nsanzimana
• Minister of Health of the Republic of Ghana – Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
• Chairperson of AMA Bureau

The key outcomes expected from the session include the election of the new AMA Bureau, which will establish the leadership for the Conference of State Parties. High-level officials are slated to receive updates on AMA's establishment and ongoing operationalization, review previous Governing Board Sessions, validate new Governing Board members, and adopt the Governing Board Rules of Procedure. 

Foundational documents, such as the AMA Structure and Organogram, Budget, and the framework for Financial Contributions of State Parties, are up for consideration and adoption.

Furthermore, the session is expected to conclude with the review of the recruitment process and appointment of the Director-General of AMA, alongside decisions on the date and venue for the Third Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties.

About the African Medicines Agency (AMA) 

The AMA Treaty was adopted by Heads of States and Government during their 32^nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly on 11 February 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The African Medicines Agency aspires to enhance capacity of State Parties and AU recognized Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to regulate medical products in order to improve access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products on the continent. AMA shall build on the efforts of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) initiative (2009), which is led by the Africa Union Development Agency - the New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD). The AMRH initiative provides guidance to AU recognized Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Health Organizations (RHOs), to facilitate harmonization of regulatory requirements and practice among the national medicines authorities (NMRAs) of the AU Member States. AMA will be the second specialized health agency of the African Union after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media opportunities:

• Journalists are invited to cover the opening and closing session of the conference – see programme.
• A press release summarizing key discussions and outcomes will be issued after the event.
• Exclusive interview opportunities with key officials and industry leaders will be available upon request.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Janet Faith Adhiambo Ochieng | Communication | Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | E-mail ochiengj@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org 
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