..Ending US$120,000 annual rent

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) will no more squander its internally generated funds on the expensive head office building at Ridge in Accra, off the Independence Avenue near the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) head office.

The Board has currently moved to an ultra-modern and resourceful building situated at the Tete-Quarshie Roundabout, behind Tullow Oil Ghana.

Until the Board’s relocation, The Herald gathered that it was paying a whopping US$12, 000 as monthly rent for the office.

Dr. Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FDB, after assuming office somewhere in 2009 responsibly used the Board’s internally generated funds in making sure the structure is completed.

The newly built headquarters, according to FDB officials, was started in 2004 under the tenure of Mr. Emmanuel Kwabena Agyarko, but was later abandoned due to lack of funds.

FDB officials disclosed that they were excited at the tremendous efforts by their CEO in making sure the building was completed on time.

They revealed how congested the former head office was, pointing out as an example the reception and car park where visitors sit and park their vehicles.

Meanwhile, insiders told this paper that the former head office belongs to a certain veteran pharmacist who was receiving a mouth-watering $120,000 annually from the Board as rent.

The Herald has also picked up signals that the Board has plans to put up a residential facility for the CEO to end the longstanding renting of a residential facility for occupants of the position.