Friday, 20th June 2025
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has paid a working visit to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to engage with its Governing Board, Executive Committee and Strategic Directors on pressing public health and safety matters affecting the nation as part of the Committees’ familiarization visit to the FDA.
The meeting, held at the FDA Head Office, provided a platform for robust in-depth discussions on key issues including food and drug regulation, staff capacity, border control, and institutional strengthening. Both parties discussed the need for stronger intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration to secure Ghana’s borders and protect the public from harmful substances.
Welcoming the delegation, the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Dr. Delese Darko, emphasized the urgent need to grant the FDA full financial autonomy to enable it to function more efficiently and independently. She explained that converting the FDA into a fully independent authority would enable the organization to better manage internal operations, offer competitive remuneration to retain experienced staff and more effectively carry out its regulatory mandate.
Dr. Darko also highlighted staffing limitations, especially in critical areas such as border enforcement, facility inspections and market surveillance. These constraints, she noted, are impeding the FDA’s ability to ensure the consistent safety of food, medicines, cosmetics, and other regulated products across the country.
Another major concern raised was the influx of illegal and dangerous substances, such as unauthorized tobacco products and an unapproved street drug known as “Red” increasingly abused by the youth.
Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Manso Opuni, the Board Chair of the FDA, made a passionate appeal for support, “For the FDA to function at its highest potential, it must be adequately resourced and financially empowered” he stated. “We humbly call on Parliament and all relevant stakeholders to support the FDA with the resources, independence, and reforms it needs to safeguard the health and safety of every Ghanaian.”
Members of the Committee raised pertinent questions about drug abuse, urging the FDA to intensify its enforcement efforts and public education. They also stressed the need for the Authority to scale up its “Inspecting to Protect” strategy and adopt a more intelligence-based approach to regulation.
The Committee further encouraged the FDA to work hard to improve its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to support operational excellence. In addition, the lawmakers acknowledged the urgency of amending outdated laws and regulations to align with emerging health challenges and global best practices.
In a show of confidence and appreciation, the Committee congratulated Dr. Delese Darko on her appointment as the first Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and commended the FDA for its resilience and dedication, despite the challenges it faces.
The visit reaffirmed the mutual commitment of Parliament and the FDA to collaborate in ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to safe and quality-regulated products.
