Dr. Samuel Nkansah: Pharmacist, Corporate Leader, And Man Of Faith Laid To Rest

Dr. Samuel Kwasi Nkansah, a distinguished pharmacist, corporate executive, and elder of Harvest Chapel International, has been laid to rest after a solemn and well-attended service at Harvest Chapel International South Tesano.

He leaves behind a legacy spanning more than three decades in Ghana’s pharmaceutical industry, public health advocacy, business consultancy, and Christian ministry.

A life defined by service, scholarship, and faith, Dr. Nkansah was remembered by colleagues and congregants as a motivator, negotiator, and pillar who bridged the worlds of medicine, commerce, and the church.

The former Country Manager for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Ghana Country Manager for Anglophone West Africa, Dr. Samuel Kwasi Nkansah, also described as an accomplished pharmacist, visionary pharmaceutical executive, distinguished professional leader, and mentor, died on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Hundreds of Ghanaians, including family members, Christians and ministers of the Gospel, members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG), Doctors and Nurses from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacist, Staff of Samah Chemist, members of Association of Registered Ethical Pharmaceutical Industries (AREPI), members of Manet Cottage Annex Housing Estate, and friends converge at the Harvest Chapel to bid farewell to Dr Samuel Kwesi Nkansah.

Professional Career: From Clinic To Boardroom

Dr Nkansah’s career in pharmacy began with purpose. In 1987 he completed his internship at the Police Hospital and was part of the maiden Police Mobile Clinic team, delivering healthcare to underserved communities.

He later joined J.L. Morrison and Jones Ltd. as a Production Pharmacist before finding what he described as his dream job in 1988 with Glaxo. Through diligence and leadership, he rose from Medical Representative to Manager for Anglophone West Africa.

Over 25 years with GlaxoSmithKline, he survived two major corporate mergers and advanced into government and business affairs. In that role he liaised with governments and stakeholders within the Expanded Programme of Immunization, or EPI. His work was instrumental in the introduction of newer vaccines across West Africa, strengthening regional public health systems.

Colleagues describe him as an innovator in sales, marketing, and policy management who brought both commercial acumen and a commitment to access to medicines to the global pharmaceutical market.

Academic Pursuit and Thought Leadership

Dr. Nkansah believed that learning never retired. In 2002 he earned an EMBA in Finance from the University of Legon. Eighteen years later, in 2020, he completed a Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, at the University of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

His doctoral thesis examined adherence to public policy on the use of generic medicines in a developing country, reflecting his lifelong commitment to making healthcare more affordable and sustainable.

Entrepreneurship After Retirement
He retired early from GSK in 2017 to focus on family, consultancy, and ministry. Retirement, however, marked a new chapter of impact.

In 2018 he founded Samah Holdings Ltd., a consultancy that advises pharmaceutical companies and hospitality corporations seeking to enter West African markets. He also served on the Board of Eagles Properties Group, extending his leadership into corporate governance.

Family and Personal Life
In 1986, while assisting at a pharmaceutical exhibition in Kumasi, Kwasi met Amah (Dr. Florence Amah Nkansah), then a pharmacy student. Their friendship grew into partnership. On July 14, 1990, they got married in a ceremony witnessed by family and friends.

The couple was blessed with two children, Christine Nana Akua Nkansah and Samuel Benjamin Kofi Nkansah. In November 2004 the family endured profound grief with the loss of their daughter, Nana Akua. Anchored by faith, Dr Nkansah and Amah leaned on each other and on God and went on to build businesses and serve in ministry together.

Ministry, Evangelism, and Service
Dr Nkansah’s faith journey began early. Although his family worshipped at Adabraka Official Town Presbyterian Church, it was at Accra Academy that he encountered Scripture Union.

In 1974 he surrendered his life to Christ. He went on to serve as Prayer Secretary, Vice President of Scripture Union, and Assistant Chapel Prefect.

In 1978 he joined Calvary Road Incorporated, CRI, an evangelistic ministry that used music, drama, and preaching to reach campuses and schools across Ghana.

As an actor, camp leader, and later Camp Commandant, he helped ignite revival among young people. CRI later metamorphosed into Harvest International Ministries, now Harvest Chapel International.

At Harvest Chapel International, Dr Nkansah served as a member of the global body of elders. Together with Amah, he was a marriage counselor for many years and chaired the Couples Fellowship Executive, leading the Couples Fellowship with a focus on faith, communication, and resilience.

Triumph Over Illness And Final Years
In a defining test of faith, Dr Nkansah was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a rare and aggressive disease. Doctors warned that most patients in his condition did not live beyond three weeks. Choosing to believe in what he called "God’s report," he entered remission by 2014.

He documented the experience in his book, These Bones Shall Live Again: From The Valley of Death to The Mountain Top, a testimony that has encouraged many facing health challenges.

A Legacy Of Faith, Resilience, And Grace

Dr Samuel Nkansah is remembered as a devout son, a devoted husband to Amah, a loving father to Kofi, a faithful elder and counselor, a grandfather, a friend to many, and a respected professional who helped shape pharmacy practice and public health policy in Ghana and across West Africa.

Highlights of Dr. Samuel K. Nkansah's life – Pharmacist, Business Leader & Policy Advisor who passed on to eternity on Sunday, June 7th, 2026.

Dr. Samuel K. Nkansah is a Ghanaian pharmacist, entrepreneur, and health policy advisor with over 25 years in pharmaceuticals, sales, marketing, and public-private engagement.

Education and Credentials
- Pharmacist by profession, with a Postgraduate Certificate in Finance.

- Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists and the Ghana College of Pharmacists.

- Holds an Executive MBA in Finance and a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, USA.

Corporate Career
- Spent 27 years with GlaxoSmithKline, progressing from medical representative to country and Anglophone West Africa business management.

- Exited as Lead, Government Affairs West Africa. His last 7 years focused on rolling out business initiatives across the region and building GSK’s government affairs capability.

- Was instrumental in the introduction and rollout of GSK vaccines like Rotarix in Anglophone West Africa.

Current Roles and Ventures
- CEO and Lead Consultant, Samah Holdings Ltd.—a group that includes Samah Chemists, Samah Trading, and Advocacy Consult.

- Technical Service Advisor/Consultant to Ghana’s Presidential Committee for Vaccine Production, supporting the country’s push for local vaccine manufacturing.

- Consultant to Ghana’s FDA on vaccine standards, working through GIZ to strengthen regulatory capacity.

He blends clinical pharmacy expertise with business leadership and policy work, focusing on medicine access, vaccine rollout, and shaping pharmaceutical policy in Ghana and West Africa.

   Comments0