Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has ushered in a new era of leadership, announcing Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni as its acting Chief Executive Officer, effective Monday, July 14, 2025.
The announcement, made via the Authority’s official Facebook page, marks a key transition in the FDA’s leadership as Professor Opuni takes over from Dr Delese Darko, who has served as CEO since 2017. Dr Darko now steps into a continental role as Director-General of the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA).
“The FDA extends profound gratitude to Dr Delese Darko for her years of remarkable service and the milestones achieved during her tenure,” the statement noted, highlighting her pivotal contributions to regulatory excellence, public safety, and international partnerships.
Dr Darko’s appointment to the AMA is widely viewed as recognition of her leadership and impact in Africa’s health regulatory landscape.
As the FDA welcomes its new leader, confidence in Professor Opuni’s ability to steer the institution forward is high. The Authority praised his deep experience and academic credentials, expressing assurance that he will continue championing the FDA’s core mission, safeguarding public health, and ensuring the quality and efficacy of regulated products across Ghana.
Professor Opuni brings a wealth of academic and professional experience. He began his career in pharmacy, earning a BPharm and an MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Control from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) in 2005. He became a registered pharmacist in 2003, followed by a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2008.
In 2016, he completed his PhD in Germany at the University of Rostock, where he later returned for a postdoctoral fellowship in 2019. He is a DAAD Scholar and recipient of the prestigious Hermes grant, which allowed him to study at the University of Washington, USA.
Professor Opuni joined the FDA in 2006 before transitioning to academia in 2010. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana.
Beyond the classroom, he plays a crucial role in shaping Ghana’s pharmaceutical education standards, serving on the GTEC Panels responsible for the accreditation and re-accreditation of pharmacy programmes. He is also an External Examiner and Assessor in pharmaceutical chemistry for various tertiary institutions.
His research credentials are equally impressive. He has published numerous scholarly articles and book chapters in international journals and co-authored a book in pharmacoproteomics, cementing his place as a thought leader in the pharmaceutical sciences.
As he assumes leadership at the FDA, Professor Opuni’s blend of regulatory experience and academic expertise is expected to drive innovation, enhance oversight, and reinforce Ghana’s reputation as a strong player in the global health space.
