Ghana: New NBA CEO Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere pledges to strengthen biosafety regulations

President Nana Akufo-Addo has appointed Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA). His appointment follows the recommendations of the NBA Governing Board and consultations with the Public Services Commission.

Mr. Asamoah-Okyere succeeds Eric Amaning Okoree, the NBA’s first CEO, whose eight-year tenure concluded in March 2024.

Mr. Okoree has been widely recognized for establishing the foundation of the NBA’s regulatory oversight and making significant strides in advancing biosafety in Ghana.

Mr. Asamoah-Okyere brings over 20 years of regulatory expertise from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), where he served as Director of Business Development and International Partnerships. He is well-known for driving digital transformation and fostering key local and international partnerships at the FDA.

Reflecting on his career and his dedication to biosafety, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere expressed, “I am committed to ensuring that biosafety regulation in Ghana remains strong, particularly in research and development involving genetically modified organisms. These activities must be carried out safely, with no unintended harm.”

His connection to the NBA dates back to 2012, when he served on the first Technical Advisory Committee of the National Biosafety Committee.

He played a crucial role in reviewing applications for confined field trials and later served on the NBA’s inaugural Governing Board from 2015 to 2017, where his efforts were instrumental in shaping the Authority’s strategic direction and framework.

In 2015, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere led a national consultation with Civil Society Groups and anti-GMO activists, successfully reaching consensus on the labelling of Genetically Modified Organisms for Food, Feed, and Processing (GMO-FFP).

This effort resulted in Ghana’s first GMO labelling guidelines, which were later published by the FDA.

With academic qualifications in biosafety, biotechnology, and monitoring and evaluation from institutions such as the University of Strathclyde and Marche Polytechnic University, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere is well-equipped to lead the NBA into its next phase.

His educational journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Mr. Asamoah-Okyere’s vision for the NBA is to strengthen biosafety regulation, ensuring that genetically modified organisms are handled with care and consideration for environmental and public safety.