Regulatory experts unite in Accra to strengthen Africa’s quality and safety standards

The 2nd Africa Quality, Safety and Regulatory Conference has ended in Accra with a strong call for collaboration among regulators, policymakers, and industry players to strengthen Africa’s compliance and quality management systems. Organised by the Regulatory Affairs Professional Network (RAPNet), the two-day event, held from November 5 to 6, 2025 at the Lancaster Hotel, brought together experts from regulatory bodies, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), industry leaders, and legal professionals to deliberate on the evolving regulatory landscape in Ghana and across the continent. Panel discussions focused on critical topics such as Front-of-Pack Labelling, Public Procurement Restrictions Policy, and the Grey Market Phenomenon—the illegal parallel importation of regulated products. Participants also explored trends in legal and compliance practices, data integrity, and ethical business conduct. In his opening remarks, Conference Chair, Dennis Dorbu-Amedzeame underscored the need for partnership between government and private actors to achieve sustainable regulatory excellence. “Together, we can create a robust and effective regulatory framework that supports the growth of industries and protects public health,” he said. A major highlight of the event was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to distinguished personalities for their outstanding contributions to Ghana’s regulatory and quality standards ecosystem. The honourees included: Prof. Alex Dodoo, Former Director-General, Ghana Standards Authority Dr. Stephen K. Opuni, Former CEO, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Dr. Hudu Mogtari, Former CEO, FDA and current Board Chair, Ghana Standards Authority Mr. Joseph Bernie Bennie, Former Director, Legal/FDA Speakers at the conference shared insights into emerging compliance challenges and called for harmonisation of regulatory standards across African markets to improve trade, consumer safety, and industrial competitiveness. The event concluded with a commitment by stakeholders to pursue continuous improvement and strengthen institutional capacity to enhance public trust in the continent’s regulatory systems. The Africa Quality, Safety and Regulatory Conference serves as a premier platform for advancing quality management, regulatory affairs, and organisational excellence across Africa.