Earlier this month, AmCham Ghana’s Consumer Goods and Agri-Business Sector Committee convened a high-level meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni and senior members of the FDA leadership team. The engagement, attended by AmCham Ghana CEO Doris Kafui Afanyedey and member company representatives, including Herbal Life Ghana, KFC Ghana, The Coca-Cola Company, AFAM Concept, Johnson & Johnson,  and Interbrands Ghana Ltd, marked a significant step in AmCham Ghana’s ongoing efforts to foster open dialogue between the private sector and key regulatory bodies.

A Conversation Grounded in Shared Goals

The meeting opened in a spirit of mutual respect and a shared commitment to building a business environment that supports investment while protecting public health. Opening the dialogue, AmCham Ghana CEO, Doris Kafui Afanyedey, emphasized the Chamber’s approach, “Our objective is not just to raise concerns, but to co-create solutions that protect consumers while enabling businesses to grow and invest confidently in Ghana.”

The FDA CEO welcomed this framing and engaged openly throughout the session.

Key Industry Concerns

Members highlighted several operational challenges, including delays in product registration and renewals, limited visibility on application processes, and unclear guidance on emerging regulations, particularly around food advertising and labelling.

There was also strong concern about the growing presence of unregistered and parallel-imported products in the market, which undermines compliant businesses and distorts competition.

FDA’s Response: Progress and Commitment

The FDA outlined ongoing reforms, including the rollout of a digital registration platform, designed to improve efficiency and transparency. The Authority also highlighted its commitment to strengthening enforcement, despite resource constraints, and welcomed deeper collaboration with industry.

Importantly, the FDA reaffirmed its position on data protection, assuring companies that proprietary information remains strictly safeguarded.

A Shared Path Forward

A key outcome of the meeting was a mutual commitment to structured and continuous engagement. Both parties agreed on the need for:

• More predictable and transparent regulatory processes
• Earlier and broader industry consultation on policy development
• Stronger collaboration to address market non-compliance

The discussion also reinforced the importance of trust and information-sharing, particularly in tackling large-scale illicit trade and ensuring a level playing field.

Positioning AmCham as a Strategic Convenor

This engagement underscores AmCham Ghana’s evolving role under its agenda of moving beyond advocacy to become a solutions-driven convenor of high-impact dialogue.

By fostering constructive engagement between regulators and industry, AmCham Ghana continues to contribute to a more predictable, competitive, and investment-friendly business environment.

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