By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority, Dr. Delese Darko, has been appointed as the first Director-General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA). The decision was made on Wednesday, June 4, during the agency’s 2nd Ordinary Session held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The appointment was officially endorsed by the Conference of State Parties of AMA. Dr. Darko was selected from a pool of 149 candidates after a thorough and competitive selection process.
Dr. Darko is well-known for her strong leadership in regulating medicines and health products in Ghana. Her new role is seen as an important step for improving public health and ensuring access to safe and effective medicines across Africa.
The African Medicines Agency was created to help improve healthcare across the continent. In 2019, the African Union adopted the legal document to establish AMA as the second main health body for Africa. Its goals are to support better health systems, promote the development of quality medicines, and help achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063 — a plan for the continent’s long-term development.
Dr. Darko’s appointment is expected to bring strong leadership and new energy to the agency’s mission of ensuring quality healthcare for all Africans.
