Pharmacist T.C. Corquaye: First Among Equals

When it comes to Pharmacy in Ghana, the name Theophilus Corquaye is a household name.

Popularly called T.C. Corquaye, he has scored a number of firsts. He was the first Registrar of the Pharmacy Council in Ghana as well as pioneer Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food and Drugs Board (now Food and Drugs Authority).

Among others he is also a former Registrar of the Pharmacy Board as well as a former chairman of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA).

The Ghana Pharmacy Council is a statutory regulatory body established by an Act of Parliament, The Pharmacy Act, (Act 489 ) 1994, which has now been replaced by the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 2013, (Act 857) Part 4.

FDA formerly the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) is the National Regulatory Authority mandated by the public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) to regulate food, drugs, food supplements, herbal and homeopathic medicines, veterinary medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, household chemical substances, tobacco and tobacco products.

The objective of the Authority is to provide and enforce standards for the sale of food, herbal medicinal products, cosmetics, drugs, medical devices and household chemical substances.

Functions of the Authority
a) Ensure adequate and effective standards for food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals and medical devices;

b) Monitor through the District Assemblies and any other agency of State compliance with the provisions of Part 6,7 and 8 of the Public Health Act,2012 (ACT 851);

c)Advise the Minister on measures for the protection of the health of consumers;

d)Advise the Minister on the preparation of effective Regulations for the implementation of Part 6,7 and 8 of the Public Health Act,2012 (ACT 851);

e)Approve the initiation and conduct of clinical trials in the country;

f) Perform any other functions that are ancillary to attaining the objects of the Authority.

T.C. Corquaye was also the former Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), a former President of the West African Pharmaceutical Federation (WAPF), now the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP).

Currently, he is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Copharm Pharmacy Limited based in Accra.

As part of his corporate social responsibility T.C. regularly participates in training programs and activities for pharmacists and medical professionals.

Earlier this month for instance, he chaired a Scientific Seminar on stroke in Accra: “Current Trends in the Management of Stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.”

It was organised by the Unichem Ghana Group Ltd, a leading name in pharmaceutical distribution, involved in exclusive representation, offering a wide range of quality pharmaceuticals to the West African marketplace.