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. Results-oriented achiever with proven ability to exceed targets and drive success in fast-paced environments. Combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience to deliver impactful solutions and enhance organizational performance.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head, FDA Aflao Border Office
Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana
02.2019 - 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.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
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
- Vaccine Safety and Administration, 2025-Alison
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Safeguarding Product Quality-Alison, 2025
- IT and ITES Outsourcing: Standards and Certification- ITC SME Trade Academy-2025
- 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, 2025
- Introduction to Cross-Border Contracts – ITC SME Trade Academy, 2025
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
02.2019 - Current
BSc. - Chemistry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
MSc. - Forensic Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)