President Nana Akufo-Addo has appointed Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA).

His appointment follows the advice of the Governing Board of the NBA and consultations with the Public Services Commission.

Mr. Asamoah-Okyere takes over from Eric Amaning Okoree, the NBA's first CEO, whose eight-year tenure ended in March 2024.

Mr Okoree has been praised for laying the foundation of the NBA’s regulatory oversight and advancing biosafety in Ghana.

His successor, Mr Asamoah-Okyere, brings with him over two decades of regulatory experience from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), where he was Director of Business Development and International Partnerships.

He is noted for spearheading digital transformation initiatives at the FDA and establishing critical local and international partnerships.

Reflecting on his career and his involvement with biosafety, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere said, “I am committed to ensuring that biosafety regulation in Ghana remains robust, especially in research and development involving genetically modified organisms. These activities must be conducted safely, without causing unintended harm.”

His affiliation with the NBA dates back to 2012 when he served on the first Technical Advisory Committee of the National Biosafety Committee.

He played a key role in reviewing confined field trial applications and later served on the NBA’s inaugural Governing Board from 2015 to 2017.

His contributions were pivotal in shaping the Authority’s strategic direction and framework.

In 2015, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere led a national consultation with Civil Society Groups and anti-GMO activists, successfully building consensus on labelling Genetically Modified Organisms for Food, Feed, and Processing (GMO-FFP).

The result was Ghana's first guidelines on GMO labelling, which were later published by the FDA.

With academic qualifications in biosafety, biotechnology, and monitoring and evaluation from institutions such as the University of Strathclyde and Marche Polytechnic University, Mr. Asamoah-Okyere is well-positioned to lead the NBA.

His educational journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Mr. Asamoah-Okyere’s vision for the NBA is to strengthen biosafety regulation, ensuring that genetically modified organisms are handled with care and consideration for environmental and public safety.