Delese Mimi Darko

Delese Mimi Darko is a Ghanaian pharmacist. In 2017, she became the first woman to be appointed chief executive officer of the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority by Nana Akuffo-Addo.

Early life and education
Mimi Darko began her education at Mrs. Agyemang Nursery School, which was owned by Madam Agyemang, the mother of Mrs. Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. After her time at Christ the King School, she was admitted to Achimota School in Accra, where she completed her O' Level studies from form 1 to 5. In 1991, Darko graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she was trained as a pharmacist. She later obtained a master's degree in business administration from the University of Northampton.

Delese Darko, the first daughter of Mr. K. G. Osei, a former Commissioner for Information, who is described as an introverted, praised as a disciplined and honorable man. She holds her mother, Madam Justina Osei, in high regard, describing her as an exceptional, compassionate, and warm-hearted mother who was constantly cheerful. Delese is the fourth child of her parents among five children.

The 'Mimi' name
Delese's name was meant to be 'Mama,' after her grandmother. However, her defiant older brother referred to her as 'Mimi' instead, as she explained to adomonline.com.

Career
During her initial internship, Mimi worked at The Pharmacy Board, specifically in the Regulatory division.

Darko joined the Food and Drugs Board in the early 1990s. The organisation was subsequently renamed the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and Darko has served there in various capacities. She has worked in every department of the institution, starting from the laboratory. She also helped in the setting up of two technical advisory committees to assist the board in their work. She was the designer of the current logo of the FDA. Darko was the lead for a collaboration between the FDA and the UK-MHRA in the area of medicine safety, which is now multi-divisional at the FDA with anti-counterfeiting as one of the key areas of support. Prior to her appointment as the chief executive officer, she was the head of Safety, Monitoring and Clinical Trial Division.

She urged local businesses to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the African Free Continental Trade regime.

Other activities
Since its inception in 2017, Darko has been a member the Scientific Advisory Group of the WHO R&D Blueprint, a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of research activities during epidemics, chaired by Jeremy Farrar. Other international and local advisory committees she serves on include: During her time at the Police Hospital's Maternity Board, Mimi developed a strong interest in childbirth. The nurses would inform her about new delivery cases, giving her the opportunity to observe different childbirth processes, including Caesarian Sessions. While working as a temporary staff, Mimi voiced her inclination to remain at the Police Hospital instead of returning to the Pharmacy Board.
 * Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Member of the Scientific Advisory Board
 * Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences, Member of the Working Group on Vaccine Safety
 * African Regulators’ Network, Member
 * African Vaccines Regulatory Forum, Chair of the Technical Coordinating Committee
 * Rural Outreach and Aid Mission, Member of the Board of Trustees

Recognition
In 2018 Darko was nominated for the United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs Awards.

In 2019, Darko was awarded the GliTZ Africa award for Ghana Women of the Year Honours for excellence in health. She was also given a special recognition award at the 13th Gong-gong Awards.

Under Darko's leadership in 2020, the Food and Drugs Authority achieved recognition as a Level Three listed institution by the World Health Organization.

Awards

 * 3rd African Public Sector Conference and Awards- Best Public Sector CEO.
 * Ghana Business Standard Award – Female Business Leader of the Year.
 * Youth Leadership Award – The Transformer Awards.
 * 2019 Glitz Africa Award – Woman of the Year in Health.
 * 13th Gong-gong Awards – Special Recognition Award.
 * She was also nominated for the UN Interagency Taskforce on the Prevention and Control of NCDs Awards.

Husband
Delese Mimi Darko is married to Rexford Darko after seven years of dating. She met the love of her life through a mutual friend when she was a fresh year student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The couple have two children, Alexandra Justina Nana Ayebeah and Berima Ayeh Darko.

Darko is a Deaconess and Cell Leader at the Christ Embassy Church since 2000.