The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is stepping up efforts to modernise Ghana’s regulatory system through digitalisation, decentralisation and risk-based regulation as it seeks to strengthen public health protection and create a more business-friendly environment.
Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni, said the Authority was implementing a series of reforms aimed at making regulatory services more efficient while maintaining high standards for food, medicines, cosmetics and other regulated products.
Speaking at the FDA’s 2026 Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting in Accra, Prof. Opuni said the Authority had digitalised several of its operations through the Ghana FDA Integrated Regulatory Management System (GFIRMS), as well as new systems for human resources, audit and finance.
The FDA has also introduced a Client Service Centre, together with ticketing and queue management systems, to improve engagement with businesses and other stakeholders.
The meeting was held on the theme: “Regulatory Excellence through Innovation, Collaboration and Sustained Growth.”
Prof. Opuni said decentralisation was another major component of the FDA’s reform agenda, noting that four new regional offices had been established, with plans to create 60 district offices by the end of 2026 in partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency.
He said the expansion would bring regulatory services closer to businesses and consumers and help improve compliance across the country.
The FDA CEO also disclosed that the Authority had retained its World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level Three status and was working towards achieving Level Four and eventually becoming a WHO-Listed Authority.
He said the FDA had also maintained ISO 17025 certification for its Centre for Laboratory Services and Research and ISO 9001 certification for the Authority.
Focus on food safety and emergency services
Prof. Opuni said the FDA had intensified food safety surveillance and risk-based inspections while expanding monitoring of food production and distribution.
The Authority, he added, had introduced a 24-hour schedule for critical regulatory and client-facing services to improve responsiveness.
He said the FDA had also gained recognition as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence in Africa for selected regulatory functions and continued to facilitate technical exchanges and internships.
The Authority is further working with development partners on projects including a training hub, data centre and an ultramodern laboratory for vaccines and biological products, with support from German Cooperation and the European Union.
Health Ministry backs regulatory reforms
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said innovation in regulation should focus on improving efficiency without compromising public safety.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Chief Director, Desmond Boateng, Mr Akandoh said Ghana needed stronger regulatory systems to protect consumers while supporting the growth of local industries.
He urged stakeholders to embrace digitalisation, data-driven regulation, modern laboratory systems and risk-based approaches.
“Regulatory innovation is not about technology for its own sake. It is about using better approaches to make regulation faster, smarter and more responsive, while never compromising public health,” he said.
The Minister also called for closer collaboration among the FDA, industry, academia, professional bodies, government agencies, development partners, civil society and consumers.
He stressed that sustained investment in human resources, skills, infrastructure and technology was essential if the FDA was to respond effectively to emerging regulatory challenges.
FDA seeks sustainable financing
Prof. Opuni identified sustainable financing, staff retention, modern infrastructure and continued government support as key to preserving the Authority’s gains.
He also called for stronger partnerships with industry associations, including the Association of Ghana Industries and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana, to improve regulatory compliance and create a predictable business environment.
He said the FDA’s future strategy would focus on smarter regulation, digital transformation, capacity building and continuous improvement, while maintaining its primary responsibility of protecting public health.
The FDA CEO urged industry and other stakeholders to provide constructive feedback and work with the Authority to develop practical solutions that would support responsible businesses while safeguarding the health of Ghanaians.
