WONDER AKPESE
Kumasi
Summary
Accomplished regulatory enforcement specialist with over a decade of frontline and policy experience in pharmaceutical border control, enforcement of public health laws, and inter-agency coordination. As Head of the FDA Aflao Border Office, I lead operations at Ghana’s busiest land entry point, focusing on the interception of substandard and falsified medical products (SFMP), legal prosecution under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), and community engagement to mitigate SFMP-related risks. Certified Foreign GMP Inspector with WHO TRS background and specialized training in vaccine GMP from AUDA-NEPAD. Strong communicator and trainer with a passion for safeguarding public health through regulation, surveillance, and education.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head, FDA Aflao Border Office
Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana
01.2018 - Current
- - Lead enforcement and regulatory operations at Ghana’s primary land border with Togo, coordinating six FDA duty posts.
- - Collaborate daily with Customs, Immigration, Police, NACOC, Port Health, National Security, and BNI.
- - Conduct targeted inspections to uncover SFMPs concealed in vehicle fuel tanks, trailers, and hidden compartments.
- - Impute charges and provide prosecutorial support under Act 851 to facilitate legal actions against offenders.
- - Train and retrain officers on new concealment strategies, emerging product trends, and enforcement protocols.
- - Engage traditional rulers and border community members on the health and legal dangers of SFMP circulation.
- - Represent FDA at GEPA-led cross-border women trader sensitization programs.
- - Spearhead public health campaigns on trade compliance and the risks of aiding SFMP smuggling.
Education
MSc. - Forensic Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
BSc. - Chemistry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Skills
- - SFMP Detection & Enforcement
- - Legal Charge Imputation & Prosecution Support
- - WHO TRS-Based GMP Inspections
- - Cross-Border Risk Surveillance & Intelligence Gathering
- - Inter-Agency Coordination (Customs, Immigration, NACOC, Police, National Security, etc)
- - Vaccine Manufacturing & Inspection (AUDA-NEPAD Trained)
- - Stakeholder Engagement (GEPA, Traditional Authorities, Community Groups)
- - Training & Capacity Building of Field Officers
- - Post-Market Surveillance & Border Risk Profiling
- - Advocacy, Public Health Communication, and Trade Compliance
Certification
- - 6th Continental GMP Training for Biologics – Focus on Vaccine Manufacturing and Inspections – AUDA-NEPAD
- - Foreign GMP Inspection (WHO TRS-based) – FDA Ghana
- - United States FDA Investigator Training Course – U.S. FDA, December 2022
- - Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Online Internship – Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science (SIFS), Nov. 2022
- - Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015) – Alison
- - Introduction to Cross-Border Contracts – ITC SME Trade Academy
LANGUAGES
- English (Fluent)
- Ewe (Fluent)
- French (Basic working knowledge)
References
Available upon request.
Affiliations
- - Ghana Chemical Society (GCS), Member No. GCS-0254
- - South Asian Society of Criminology and Victimology (SASCV), Member No. IN 210
ADDITIONAL ROLES
- Foreign GMP Inspector (WHO TRS Certified)
- - Conduct GMP inspections locally and internationally.
- - Evaluate compliance of biologics and vaccine manufacturers with WHO TRS standards.
- - Advise on regulatory actions based on inspection findings.
Timeline
Head, FDA Aflao Border Office
Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana
01.2018 - Current
BSc. - Chemistry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
MSc. - Forensic Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Similar Profiles
WILLIAMS GYASIWILLIAMS GYASI
National Service Person at Food and Drugs Authority (FDA-Import and Export Control)National Service Person at Food and Drugs Authority (FDA-Import and Export Control)
Nana Kwame Boahene AgyareNana Kwame Boahene Agyare
Food Division (Street Food Inspector) at Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)Food Division (Street Food Inspector) at Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)
Maxwell Bhasid MahamaMaxwell Bhasid Mahama
Senior Information Technologist at Food and Drugs Authority GhanaSenior Information Technologist at Food and Drugs Authority Ghana
Bismark OforiBismark Ofori
Senior Laboratory Technician at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologySenior Laboratory Technician at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Derrick AppiahDerrick Appiah
Estate Officer at Amponsah-Efah Pharmaceuticals LtdEstate Officer at Amponsah-Efah Pharmaceuticals Ltd