Delese Mimi Darko leads Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority, strengthens regulatory systems and positions Ghana as a key player in African pharmaceutical governance.
Delese Mimi Darko holds a significant place in Ghana’s regulatory and public health industry as the first woman to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). Appointed in 2017, she has overseen the agency’s efforts to strengthen medicines regulation, food safety, and consumer protection while positioning Ghana as an active player in Africa’s pharmaceutical governance.
Early career and entry into the FDA
Darko’s professional journey began with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1991. Shortly afterwards, she joined the Food and Drugs Board, as the agency was then called, working initially in its laboratories. In these early years, she was involved in the scientific analysis and evaluation of medicines, a core part of the authority’s mandate to safeguard consumers.
Her career within the agency spanned several departments, including clinical trials, safety monitoring, and quality assurance. This breadth of experience gave her a ground-level understanding of how medicines and food regulation function in practice and the gaps that needed addressing. She later obtained an MBA from the University of Northampton, adding management expertise to her scientific background.
The Authority’s mandate and growth under her leadership
The Food and Drugs Authority regulates medicines, food, medical devices, cosmetics, and other health-related products in Ghana. Its remit covers product registration, inspections, laboratory testing, post-market surveillance, and enforcement. In recent decades, the agency has expanded its capacity and profile, moving from a relatively modest institution into one of the more recognised regulatory bodies on the continent.
When Darko was appointed CEO in 2017 by President Nana Akufo-Addo, it marked the first time a woman had led the authority. Her leadership coincided with efforts to raise regulatory standards, improve compliance with international benchmarks, and enhance public confidence in the agency’s work.
A major milestone under her tenure came in 2020 when Ghana’s FDA became the second regulatory authority in Africa to reach the World Health Organisation’s Maturity Level 3 status. This designation confirmed that the agency’s medicines regulatory system was functioning at an advanced and integrated level.
The FDA has also developed regulatory frameworks for vaccines, biotechnology-derived medicines, and blood products. These moves were designed to ensure that new forms of medical technology are monitored with the same rigour as conventional pharmaceuticals.
International partnerships have been another feature of her leadership. The authority has collaborated with the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on anti-counterfeiting initiatives and medicine safety. In addition, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) recognised Ghana’s FDA as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence in areas including clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and drug registration.
Delese Darko has been recognised with several awards during her career, including Glitz Africa’s Woman of the Year in Health (2019) and the Best Public Sector CEO award in 2022. She has also received acknowledgement from international organisations for her role in strengthening regulation.
A continental role
In June 2025, her career took on a wider scope when she was appointed the inaugural Director-General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) at its second ordinary session in Kigali. The AMA is tasked with harmonising medicines regulation across the continent, and her election reflects both her personal experience and Ghana’s growing reputation in this field.
Have you registered for the Africa Female CEO Conference (AFCC)? Join over 200+ influential and emerging African women leaders at the inaugural AFCC on September 18th at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, to chart the course for Africa’s future. Hit this link to reserve your slot: https://tix.africa/africa-female-ceo-conference-afcc
