Dr Delese Mimi Darko, the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority Ghana (FDA), has been honoured with an award for excellence in medical products regulation and distinguished leadership on the African continent. The award acknowledges FDA Ghana as a pioneering National Regulatory Agency (NRA) and recognizes Dr Darko's dedication to elevating the Authority's standards and commitment to becoming a global centre of regulatory excellence.
The accolade was received at the 6th Biennial Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2023, under the theme “Africa's Medical Products Regulation Achievers Award.” It highlights FDA Ghana's innovative approach, particularly in establishing a partnership and international collaboration department aimed at engaging with other NRAs, key stakeholders in medicines regulation, development partners, and academia.
Furthermore, the FDA Ghana's recent designation by the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence (RCORE) for Vaccine Regulatory Oversight underscores its significant contributions to regulatory oversight. This designation, encompassing eight out of the nine regulatory functions, signifies the FDA's capacity and competencies to train its peers across Africa in areas such as marketing authorization, pharmacovigilance, and clinical trials.
In a statement, the FDA expressed its commitment to safeguarding public health through regulatory excellence, emphasizing that this prestigious award reflects past achievements and sets the stage for future endeavours. Dr Darko's transformative leadership has been instrumental in driving positive change and advancements in medical product regulation not only within Ghana but also across the continent.
The recognition of FDA Ghana's achievements serves as a testament to the Authority's unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and quality in medical products, ultimately contributing to the well-being and health of the Ghanaian population and beyond.