- FDA CEO says staff are among the worst paid in Ghana’s public sector
- 48 professionals resigned in 2023 alone due to poor remuneration
- Only 18 of several recruitment requests approved by Finance Ministry
Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni, has expressed concern over the Authority’s low salary structure, describing FDA employees as among the lowest paid in Ghana’s public sector. He warned that inadequate compensation is causing an exodus of skilled professionals.
Speaking at the FDA’s 2024 Annual Stakeholder Meeting on Wednesday, August 20, Prof. Opuni said over 67 staff members have resigned in the past five years, with 48 leaving just last year for better-paying roles elsewhere.
“FDA staff are among the worst paid in Ghana. Under the single spine salary structure, their compensation is not reflective of their expertise. Many are leaving for well-resourced institutions,” he stated.
He appealed to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ministry of Finance to urgently approve the FDA’s proposed new conditions of service. According to him, only 18 staff recruitment requests have been approved, with the rest supported through the Authority’s internally generated funds.
The stakeholder meeting, themed “Improving Productivity and Efficiency Through Digitalisation and Staff Commitment,” brought together officials from the Ministries of Finance and Health, exporters, importers, and community leaders to discuss ways to improve performance and protect public health.
During the event, FDA’s Head of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Afua Amoako-Mensah, shared progress under the Street Food Vending Permit Scheme. She said 3,510 food vendors were trained in the past year, with 1,094 permits issued.
“Many vendors, however, failed to complete the process by obtaining the required health certificates, despite several follow-ups,” she noted.
She also highlighted the FDA’s collaboration with border security agencies to prevent the influx of non-compliant food and drug products into the country.
