-By Daniel Bampoe
Ghana has scored a significant diplomatic and public health victory as Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has been appointed Director-General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
The announcement was made during the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda.
The appointment was the result of a rigorous selection process.
Dr. Darko’s new role at the AMA will see her tasked with a continental mission—harmonizing drug regulations, improving access to essential medicines, and ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products across Africa.
The AMA, established in November 2021 by the African Union, aims to become Africa’s primary health regulatory body, akin to the European Medicines Agency or the U.S. FDA.
Journey from Local Regulator to Global Reformer
Dr. Darko joined Ghana’s FDA as a pharmacist nearly three decades ago.
With a keen eye for science and a drive for reform, she rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the agency’s first female CEO in 2017.
Her leadership transformed the FDA from a national regulator into a respected continental force.
She was pivotal in Ghana’s 2001 entry into the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring, a move that dramatically improved post-market surveillance of medicines. She established Ghana’s first National Pharmacovigilance Centre and later led the agency into groundbreaking territory—regulating clinical trials and blood products, a feat unmatched in most of sub-Saharan Africa.
Her policies were not only proactive but also inclusive. She championed patient safety initiatives, launched the Med Safety App for easier drug safety reporting, and expanded the regulation of herbal medicines, biotechnology products, and vaccines.
Today, Ghana’s FDA is recognized by the WHO and NEPAD as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence in three areas: Medicines Safety, Clinical Trials, and Drug Registration.
Continental Benchmark
Under Dr. Darko’s watch, the FDA attracted benchmarking visits from counterparts across Africa—from Rwanda to Ethiopia, Sierra Leone to Kenya.
She welcomed regulators seeking to learn from Ghana’s regulatory model, which now stands as a blueprint for African pharmaceutical oversight.
The AMA role is the natural next step. With her deep expertise and collaborative approach, Dr. Darko is uniquely positioned to lead AMA at a critical juncture, as Africa accelerates its efforts to strengthen medicine supply chains, curb counterfeit drugs, and boost local pharmaceutical production.
Ghana’s Diplomacy Pays Off
The appointment is also a diplomatic win for Ghana.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who led a delegation to the event, acknowledged the strategic support of Government and said “This was a team effort. Ghana showed it can lead not just by example, but through constructive diplomacy and technical competence.”
Indeed, AMA’s vision aligns with Ghana’s long-term health ambitions—to not only protect its citizens but to export its standards, knowledge, and regulatory excellence to the rest of Africa.
Global Recognition, Local Legacy
Dr. Darko’s work has earned her recognition both at home and abroad. She has served on international expert committees for the WHO, CIOMS, and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, among others.
Her accolades include a United Nations Award for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, the Glitz Africa Woman of the Year (Excellence in Health), and the Ghana Business Standard Award for Female Business Leader of the Year.
Beyond the awards and titles, her legacy lies in the stronger systems she leaves behind—both in Ghana and, soon, across Africa.
A devout Christian, wife, and mother of two, Dr. Darko is known for her humility, work ethic, and vision. Her elevation to AMA is not just a personal milestone—it’s a symbol of what is possible when integrity, competence, and strategic leadership converge.
As Ghana celebrates this achievement, Africa prepares to turn a new page in its health governance.
At the center of this transformation is a woman who started in a pharmacy lab and now leads a continent’s fight for medicine safety.
