The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) recorded a surplus of GH¢70 million in 2025, representing a 51 per cent increase from the GH¢46 million recorded in the previous year, despite operational challenges including ageing laboratory equipment and the circulation of illicit products.

The Authority’s Deputy Director of Finance, Samuel Adom-Siaw, disclosed the figures at the FDA’s 2025 Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting in Accra while presenting its audited financial statements.

He said the FDA’s total assets rose from GH¢296 million in 2024 to GH¢358 million in 2025, while liabilities fell from GH¢12 million to GH¢3.4 million.

The FDA generated total revenue of GH¢420 million during the year, made up of GH¢278 million in internally generated funds, GH¢78 million in donor support and GH¢63 million in government subsidies.

Internally generated funds accounted for 66 per cent of total revenue, with donor inflows and government subsidies contributing 19 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

Mr Adom-Siaw said expenditure increased marginally from GH¢266 million to GH¢267 million despite higher staff compensation and increased operational requirements.

However, the Authority recorded a GH¢95 million shortfall against its projected IGF target of GH¢374 million, which he attributed largely to exchange-rate movements.

He said the FDA would continue to strengthen revenue mobilisation, control expenditure and periodically review its fees in consultation with stakeholders.

On its regulatory activities, FDA Quality Assurance Manager Joseph Ofosu-Siaw said the Authority received 24,446 product applications in 2025 and processed 24,225, resulting in 20,205 approvals.

It also conducted 15,457 facility inspections, examined 47,189 consignments at the ports and carried out 2,250 market surveillance exercises, while 215,876 non-compliant products were retrieved.

Mr Ofosu-Siaw said 62 per cent of regulated products registered during the year were locally manufactured, up from 33 per cent in 2024.

The Authority also trained 8,693 street food vendors and issued 1,369 permits under its food safety programme.

Despite the operational gains, he identified ageing laboratory equipment as a major concern, noting that some equipment is between eight and 20 years old and has become increasingly difficult to maintain, particularly in laboratories operating around the clock.