Food and Drugs Authority (Ghana)

A Ghanaian government agency
Food and Drugs Authority logo
Food and Drugs Authority building

The Food and Drugs Authority (or FDA, formerly known as the Food and Drugs Board) is a Ghanaian government agency responsible for the inspection, certification, and proper distribution of foods and food products as well as drugs in Ghana.The FDA exists to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of both human and veterinary products.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) operates under the authority granted by Parts 6, 7, and 8 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).[1] Its role includes establishing and enforcing standards for the production, importation, exportation, sale, and distribution of food, drugs (herbal, allopathic, and veterinary), cosmetics, medical devices, household chemicals, tobacco products, blood, and blood products, as well as overseeing the regulation of clinical trials, all aimed at protecting public health and safety.[1]

The board was established by the Food and Drugs Law 1992, PNDC Law 305B.[2] Delese A. A. Darko is the CEO of FDA.[3] In May 2020, the FDA was recognized by the World Health Organization as a Level Three listed institution.[4]

The FDA Ghana office is located at 17 Indian Ocean Street, Nelson Mandela Avenue, in the South Legon Commercial Area of Shiashie Accra[5]

History

The Food and Drugs Board was initially established under the Food and Drugs Law of 1992 (PNDCL 305B) and later amended by the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act 523 of 1996 to mandate salt fortification for addressing nutritional deficiencies and align the law with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.[6][7]

Prior to 1990, the regulation of drugs and pharmacy practice was governed by the Pharmacy and Drugs Act (Act 64) of 1961. However, in 1990, the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) enacted the Narcotics Drugs Control, Enforcement and Sanctions Law (PNDCL 236), establishing the Narcotics Control Board to combat the growing issue of drug abuse and the international challenges posed by illicit drug trafficking.[6][7]

In 1992, the PNDC separated the regulation of non-narcotic drugs from the practice of pharmacy, leading to the enactment of the Food and Drugs Law, 1992 (PNDC 305B). This law governed the production, import, export, distribution, use, and advertising of food, drugs, cosmetics, chemical substances, and medical devices.[6]

Later, the Pharmacy Act, 1994 (Act 489), established the Pharmacy Council to oversee the pharmacy profession and pharmacist registration. Although the Food and Drugs Law was passed in 1992, the inaugural board was not formed until August 26, 1997.[6] In 2012, the Food and Drugs Board transitioned into the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) with the enactment of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).[6][7]

The FDA has promoted the "Fight the Fakes" campaign, which aims to inform Ghanaians about the dangers of substandard and falsified medicines.[8][9] In 2023, the FDA approved a malaria vaccine created by University of Oxford researchers, making Ghana the first country to approve it for use.[10]

Divisions

  • Food Division [11]
  • Health products and Technologies Division
  • Technical Operation Division
  • Corporate Services Division[12]

Heads of the Institution

NAME DURATION PROFESSION ADMINISTRATION
Emmanuel Kyeremanten Agyarko[13][14] 2001-2009 Pharmacist, Medical Doctor and Politician[15] Kuffour's Administration
Stephen Kwabena Opuni[16][17] 2009-2013 Medical Doctor[18] Mahama's Administration[19]
Hudu Mogtari[20][21][22] 2013-2017 Pharmacist[23]

Global Health Regulation Strategist[24]

 Mahama's Administration[25]
Delese Mimi Darko[26][27][28] 2017-2025[29] Pharmacist[30] Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Ado's Administration
Kwabena Frimpong Manso-Opuni[31][32][33][34] 2025-now[35] Pharmacist, Lecturer Mahama's Administration

Laws Passed

Public Health Act 2012, (851): The Act integrated and updated Ghana's National public health legislation, formerly establishing the modern Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) under part six, (Tobacco) part seven (Food and Drugs), and part eight (Clinical Trials)[36]

Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act, 196 (523): Amended the original1992 law to mandate salt fortification and align regulations with the national constitution.[37]

Food and Drugs Law 1992 (PNDCL 305B): Originally created the original Food and Drugs Board to set and protect basic consumer safety standards.[38]

Achievements

WHO Maturity Level 3 (ML3): Ghana achieved WHO Maturity Level 3 status in 2020, becoming only the second country in the WHO African region to attain this internationally recognized standard for medicines regulatory systems.[39][40]

Progressive Licensing Scheme (PLS): Through the Progressive Licensing Scheme, the FDA supported the small-scale local food processors to meet national food safety standards and obtain the necessary certificates.[41][42][43]

The FDA launched targeted initiatives to help blood collection and testing facilities to meet licensing requirements and safe blood transfusion requirement. [44][45]

WHO Prequalified Laboratory: The Drugs Laboratory at the center for Laboratory Services and Research attained a WHO Prequalified Control Quality status, becoming the only Laboratory in the ECOWAS sub-region to receive this international recognition.[46][47][48]

References

  1. 1 2 "Food And Drugs Authority – Your Well-being, Our Priority". Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  2. ↑ "Food and Drugs Board". Food and Drugs Authority Ghana. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "FDA dismisses claims of advertising, appointing agencies to recruit on its behalf - MyJoyOnline.com". MyJoyonline. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  4. ↑ "WHO Names Ghana's FDA As Africa's Second Best Regulator". Modern Ghana. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  5. ↑ "Contact Us – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "History – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  7. 1 2 3 Sokpe, Sellassie (2023-04-14). "History of the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana". betterghanadigest.com. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  8. ↑ Knott, Stacey (2020-04-30). "Covid-19 could mark a deadly turn in Ghana's fight against fake drugs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  9. ↑ "#FightTheFakes: How the Ghanaian Food and Drugs Authority is fighting fake medicines". Fleming Fund. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  10. ↑ Grover, Natalie; Rigby, Jennifer; Rigby, Jennifer (2023-04-14). "Ghana first to approve Oxford's malaria vaccine". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  11. ↑ "Divisions – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  12. ↑ "Divisions – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  13. ↑ "The life and legacies of the late Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko". Pulse Ghana. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  14. ↑ "BNI books ex FDB boss for court". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  15. ↑ "Profile of the late Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko". GhanaWeb. 2018-11-22. Archived from the original on 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  16. ↑ "Who is Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni?". Graphic Online. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  17. ↑ "The Opuni Story: How It Started And Where We Are So Far". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  18. ↑ "Who is Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni?". Graphic Online. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  19. ↑ "Opuni, businessman charged for causing financial loss in Ghc43m deal". 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  20. ↑ "FDA boss sacked". GhanaWeb. 2017-01-31. Archived from the original on 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  21. ↑ "Wa: Former FDA National Boss Supports NDC Youth with Ghc20,000". 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  22. ↑ "Hudu Mogtari | Vaccine Safety and Confidence-Building Working Group". vacsafe.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  23. ↑ "FDA Boss Reassigned...Now Heads COCOBOD | 02nd December, 2013 - Ghana Hospitals". ghanahospitals.org. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  24. ↑ "Governing Board - Ghana Standards Authority". 2025-10-17. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  25. ↑ "FDA Boss Reassigned...Now Heads COCOBOD | 02nd December, 2013 - Ghana Hospitals". ghanahospitals.org. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  26. ↑ "Dr. Delese Mimi Darko Appointed Inaugural Director General of the African Medicines Agency(AMA) | African Union". au.int. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  27. ↑ Okyere, Harry (2025-06-04). "Ghana's FDA Chief Dr. Delese Mimi Darko elected as first Director-General of African Medicines Agency". Ghana Pharmaceutical Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  28. ↑ "Delese Mimi Darko - Global Health EDCTP3 - European Union". www.global-health-edctp3.europa.eu. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  29. ↑ "Delese Mimi Darko". Continuous Education Services (CES). Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  30. ↑ "Delese Mimi Darko". Continuous Education Services (CES). Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  31. ↑ "Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  32. ↑ "Food and Drugs Authority gets new Acting CEO". Graphic Online. 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  33. ↑ "Prof. Frimpong-Manso Opuni appointed Acting CEO of FDA". 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  34. ↑ "Utano Profile: Meet Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni Acting CEO, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  35. ↑ "Food and Drugs Authority gets new Acting CEO". Graphic Online. 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  36. ↑ "Food And Drugs Authority – Your Well-being, Our Priority". Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  37. ↑ "History – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  38. ↑ "Foods and Drug Authority – Ministry Of Health". moh.gov.gh. 13 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2026-06-05. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  39. ↑ "Ghana bolsters medicines regulatory system, guarantees product quality | United Nations in Ghana". ghana.un.org. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  40. ↑ "Ghana's regulatory system achieves a critical milestone". www.who.int. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  41. ↑ "Food And Drugs Authority – Your Well-being, Our Priority". Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  42. ↑ "Progressive Licensing Scheme – Food And Drugs Authority". Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  43. ↑ "FDA launches new licensing scheme for small scale food processing facilities". 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  44. ↑ "FDA begins three-year drive to regulate blood facilities". 2026-06-02. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  45. ↑ Ampomah, Samuel (2017-05-27). "Blood Safety Information System launched in Ghana - Ministry Of Health". Ministry Of Health. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  46. ↑ Times, Ghanaian (2022-08-26). "FDA, Drugs Lab awarded WHO-prequalified QCL Status". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  47. ↑ "FDA's laboratory first to receive WHO prequalified Quality Control status in ECOWAS sub-region - MyJoyOnline". 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  48. ↑ Amoako, Kwame Nkosuo (2022-08-27). "WHO approves FDA's Centre for Laboratory and Research". Retrieved 2026-07-31.
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