The presidency has named Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), effective Monday, July 14, 2025.
His appointment follows the departure of Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, who now heads the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA) as its newly appointed Director-General.
Prof. Opuni, a seasoned pharmacist and academic, previously served as Board Chairman of the FDA. His elevation to Acting CEO is seen as a move to consolidate the gains of the Authority and ensure continuity in leadership.
A statement from the FDA welcomed the appointment and praised Dr. Darko’s contributions over the past eight years. Her tenure was marked by reforms in drug regulation, expanded international partnerships, and a strong focus on consumer safety.
Prof. Opuni brings over two decades of experience in pharmacy regulation, pharmaceutical science, and public health policy.
A registered pharmacist since 2003, he earned his MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2005.
He holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Rostock, Germany, and later undertook postdoctoral work there in 2019.
He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana’s School of Pharmacy, where he has led numerous academic and research initiatives.
He has also worked closely with regulatory agencies across Africa and served as a consultant to institutions such as the West Africa Health Organization, the United States Pharmacopeia Convention, and PricewaterhouseCoopers Ghana.
Prof. Opuni is widely published and has co-authored academic works in pharmacoproteomics.
His affiliations include the Royal Society of Chemistry, American Society for Mass Spectrometry, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.
As the FDA enters a new phase focused on innovation, regional harmonisation, and enhanced enforcement, Prof. Opuni is expected to guide the Authority in strengthening its oversight role in the health and consumer goods sectors.
The Presidency and the FDA have both expressed confidence in his leadership and reaffirmed their support for his mandate to safeguard public health.
