FDA Governing Board urges staff to continue to ensure food, drug safety on Ghanaian market

The Governing Board of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Monday commended the Authority for its continuous commitment to ensure the safety of food and drugs on the Ghanaian market.

The board at its last meeting for the year also expressed its appreciation for FDA’s resolve to rid the Ghanaian market of sub-standard products.

In a release issued by the Board Chair, Mr Theophilus T. Corquaye and copied to Ghana News Agency, he said the FDA has reduced the level of sub-standard products from the Ghanaian market, which stood at 36 per cent in 2009 to six per cent in 2012.

The Governing Board urged the staff to continue to stay focused and implement to the letter the mandate of the Authority, “considering that the (body) stands tall in Africa and is recognised as one of the most stringent FDA institutions in the Africa Region by WHO, USAID and US Pharmacopia”.

The FDA with the support of the Governing Board managed its internally generated fund judiciously and was able to put up a modern office complex and a well equipped laboratory, the statement said.

The staff strength increased from 219 to 489 during the four year period whilst three more offices were opened in Upper East, Central and Eastern Regions covering the whole country.

“During the same period, the FDA procured IT equipment, operational vehicles, staff buses and saloon vehicles for senior management staff.”

During the four year period, the Drug Registration Committee and Dossier Evaluation Committee of the FDA met regularly and gave approval to 3, 254 different medicines apart from medical devices and other regulated products.

The Governing Board applauded the FDA for being transparent in their activities with stakeholders.

Source: GNA