Like any other industry, the pharmaceutical industry or sector in Ghana consists of different  companies  ranging  from  manufacturing, import  and distribution/wholesaling,  and  the  retail  pharmacy  outlets.  The  pharmace utical industry has an estimated size of over US$300 million consumer/retail sales in 2008 (Seiter and Gyansa-Lutterodt, 2009). Although the current size of the industry is not known, it is assumed that the pharmaceutical industry in Ghana grows at a rate of about 10-12% per year (drug expenditure tends to grow above overall economic growth). Ghana has 38 registered pharmaceutical manufacturers producing oral and topical finished dosage forms, of which twelve (12) are considered to be major producers and about eighteen (18) medium scale producers (Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana, 2016). In the absence of accurate industry statistics, it is estimated that, the Ghana pharmaceutical market is made up of approximately 30% locally produced and 70% imported products; the latter originating from other parts of the world but mainly from India and China.

The Pharmacy Council and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) regulate the pharmaceutical industry in Ghana. The Ghana Pharmacy Council is a statutory regulatory body established by an Act of Parliament, The Pharmacy Act 1994 (Act

489). The Pharmacy Council is responsible for the registration and renewing of license of Pharmaceutical companies (both retail and wholesale/distributors/manufacturers) in the country and also ensures that there is a registered Pharmacist in the facility. Currently, there are over 100 wholesale pharmaceutical companies operating in Ghana, with over 1500 retail pharmacy outlets.

The FDA on the other side is responsible for the registration of medicines imported and locally manufactured (The Food and Drugs Law 1992 L.I. 1541 (P.N.D.C Law 305B)). A drug that is not registered by the FDA cannot be distributed for public consumption. Medicines imported or manufactured locally must therefore meet the quality standards outlined by the Authority.