President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, following the advice of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) Governing Board and in consultation with the Public Services Commission, has appointed Mr. Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere as the new Chief Executive Officer of the NBA.
He succeeds Mr. Eric Amaning Okoree, the NBA’s first CEO, who concluded his eight-year tenure in March 2024 and is recognized for establishing the NBA’s regulatory framework and advancing biosafety in Ghana.
Before this appointment, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere served as the Director of Business Development and International Partnerships at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for over 20 years.
He is expected to bring his extensive experience in regulatory practices, strategy development, business development, and quality management systems.
In recent years, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere has significantly enhanced FDA operations and revenue through digital transformation and by fostering vital local and international partnerships that bolster regulatory capabilities.
His connection with the NBA dates back to 2012 when he contributed to the first Technical Advisory Committee of the National Biosafety Committee, reviewing the initial five confined field trial applications.
He later served on the inaugural Governing Board from 2015 to 2017, shaping the Authority’s organizational structure and strategic direction.
Notably, in 2015, he led a national consultation involving various stakeholders to develop a consensus on labeling genetically modified organisms, culminating in published guidelines by the FDA.
Mr. Asamoah-Okyere holds a Master of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (2021), a Master’s in Biosafety in Plant Bio-Technology from Marche Polytechnic University (2011), a Master of Science in Food Biotechnology (Merit) from the University of Strathclyde (2008), and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (1st Class) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2001). He is also an alumnus of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC), Legon.
As the new CEO, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere is dedicated to enhancing Ghana’s biosafety regulations through a results-driven approach, ensuring that research and applications of genetically modified organisms are conducted safely, with robust safeguards to prevent any unintended consequences.
