Prof. Dodoo heads Ghana Standards Authority
Professor Alexander Nii Oto Dodoo, a clinical pharmacologist, pharmacist and pharmacovigilante, with extensive experience in drug safety, vaccine safety, harmonisation initiatives and the development of norms and standards, now heads the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
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His nomination as the Executive Director of the GSA was made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He assumed office in June.
As an Associate Professor, Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and the University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Advocacy and Training in Pharmacovigilance, Prof. Dodoo brings a wealth of diverse experience to his new role.
Leadership positions
He has served for many years in leadership positions in a number of organisations and committees.
He is a member of the WHO’s Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicinal Products, as well as the immediate chairperson of its Global Vaccine Safety Initiative.
He is also a member of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependency Disorders and has been supporting regional efforts in harmonisation.
Prof. Dodoo has been to a number of African countries to assist their ministries of Health in the setting up of safety surveillance infrastructure.
He works closely with the African Union (AU) and the African Medicines Harmonisation Initiative and currently heads a NEPAD/AU designated Regional Centre for Regulatory Excellence.
Prof. Dodoo served for two terms as the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) and for three years as the President of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance, the leading global international scientific organisation for drug and vaccine safety.
He holds MSc (Biopharmacy) and PhD (Pharmacy) degrees from the King College London, University of London, UK and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
He is a Fellow, Ghana College of Pharmacists, Fellow, PSGH, Fellow, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacy, a Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council of the UK and a Member, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
GSA’s vision
Commenting on his appointment, Prof. Dodoo said his main aim was to build a world class organisation that is customer-focused.
“I am humbled to be appointed by the President to undertake this critically important role that has the potential to transform industry and commerce in Ghana.
“I want the GSA to be the leading organisation in facilitating trade and improving business practices in Ghana. I want to champion the President’s call for us to expand intra-ECOWAS trade and create jobs in Ghana by making made-in-Ghana goods the natural choice for everyone,” he said.
Prof. Dodoo said he wanted the citizenry to patronise Made-in-Ghana products not just because they were made-in-Ghana but because they are of excellent quality and represent value for money.
He said the GSA would work with industry to make this possible in the shortest possible time, adding “The GSA will also work in improving practices in Ghana so that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will have ISO-certification for their practices and procedures.”
"I am thrilled to be part of the GSA team. We have work to do. We have contributions to make in all sectors of the economy including mining, agriculture, oil and gas, construction and aviation.
“We have a key role to play in modernising agriculture and commerce. We have a responsibility to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of Ghanaians. We have so much to do so the hard work starts now,” he explained — GNA