Honouring a Pillar of Pharmacy at the Maiden Pharmacy Excellence Awards

In a profession that demands precision, passion, and people-centered care, few have embodied its spirit as completely and enduringly as Pharmacist Abraham Gyesie. At the maiden edition of the Pharmacy Excellence Awards, where excellence was both celebrated and immortalized, one man stood tall above the rest — not for a single act, but for a lifetime of unwavering commitment to pharmaceutical excellence, public health advocacy, and service to humanity.

At 81 years old, Abraham Gyesie was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, a culmination of more than four decades of trailblazing work in pharmaceutical care, policy advocacy, community service, and business development. But this is not just a story of years — it is a story of purpose, resilience, and vision.

From humble beginnings to a towering Legacy

Born in Kumasi in 1943, Abraham Gyesie’s early academic brilliance foreshadowed the extraordinary life he would lead. After excelling through Adansi Brofuyedru Middle School and Opoku Ware Secondary School, he pursued his passion for healthcare at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he obtained his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1967.

Determined to deepen his expertise, he later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Management from the Institute of Pharmacy Management International in the UK — equipping him with both the clinical knowledge and strategic insight that would define his storied career.

A career built on vision and impact

Mr. Gyesie’s professional journey reads like a manual on how to influence an entire industry. Starting as a Medical Representative and later Area Sales Manager for companies like Glaxo, Hoechst, and Sandoz, he proved his mettle in pharmaceutical marketing across West Africa. He rose swiftly through the ranks, eventually becoming Group Product and Training Manager for Sandoz Nigeria and Marketing and Training Manager for Abbott Laboratories.

But it was his entrepreneurial leap in 1980 — founding Healthcare Services Ltd, a pharmaceutical wholesale and retail company — that marked a turning point. This venture not only created jobs but also improved access to quality medicines across Ghana for 30 years.

In 2010, he launched Health and Development Consult, and today serves as its CEO, offering consultancy to ministries, international NGOs, and regulatory bodies. His clients have included the Ghana Ministry of Health, Pharmacy Council, MSH, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Nigeria.

A tireless advocate for equitable healthcare

What truly sets Abraham Gyesie apart is his unrelenting commitment to health equity, especially for underserved communities. Recognizing that over-the-counter (OTC) medicine sellers are often the first — and sometimes only — point of contact in rural healthcare, he devoted years to training, mentoring, and empowering thousands of chemical sellers across Ghana.

As a Volunteer Consultant to the OTC Medicine Sellers Association, he championed safer practices, developed training manuals, initiated pledges for ethical conduct, and promoted policies to integrate them into the formal healthcare system. His visionary approach bridged the gap between grassroots realities and national healthcare policies.

A pen, a platform, and a purpose

Abraham Gyesie is not just a pharmacist and businessman — he is a writer, educator, and publisher. His publications, including the acclaimed “From Despair to Hope – The HIV and AIDS Story of Papa Kofi and His Family”, used storytelling to humanize critical health issues. Approved by Ghana’s Ministry of Education as a supplementary reader, the book continues to educate and inspire Ghanaian youth.

As Editor and Publisher of Health & Development News-Online, and Convener of the Health and Development Forum, he has created platforms that amplify healthcare discourse and foster cross-sector collaboration.

Service beyond the dispensary

A man of deep conviction and broad service, Mr. Gyesie’s leadership transcends professional boundaries. He is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, and the Ghana College of Pharmacists. He has served as President of the Rotary Club of Accra, District Secretary of Rotary International District 9100, and National Chairman of the Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana (VOLU), promoting youth development through patriotism and community service. His Master of Ceremonies skills were par excellence — for many years, he was the celebrated MC for the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), bringing elegance, wit, and warmth to countless professional gatherings.

A legacy that lights the path for the future

The Lifetime Achievement Award he received is more than recognition — it is a beacon for the younger generation. In an era where quick success is often prioritized over lasting impact, Abraham Gyesie’s story is a masterclass in legacy-building through service.

To young pharmacists and professionals, he offers a living example of what it means to remain relevant, compassionate, and visionary in a changing world. Whether through his policy advocacy, grassroots empowerment, or intellectual contributions, his message is clear: excellence is not an act, but a habit forged in service to others.

The Kwabena Ohene-Manu Award: A Legacy honoured, a legacy continued

The Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon Pharmacist Abraham Gyesie carries an even deeper resonance, as it bears the name of another towering figure in pharmacy — the late Pharm. Kwabena Ohene-Manu. A former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), Ohene-Manu dedicated over five decades to the advancement of pharmacy across Ghana and West Africa. From the moment he was registered as a pharmacist in August 1967, he led transformative change in the PSGH — rising to become Honorary General Secretary in 1971 and later President from 1983 to 1987, during which he steered the Society’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. As a founding father of the West African Pharmaceutical Federation, a Foundation Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, and a revered thought leader in health policy and pharmaceutical ethics, his legacy is indelible.

In many ways, Pharmacist Abraham Gyesie is a living embodiment of the Kwabena Ohene-Manu legacy. Both men share not only the distinction of being visionary leaders, writers, and advocates for ethical pharmacy practice, but also the unwavering belief that pharmacy is a calling rooted in service to humanity. Like Ohene-Manu, Gyesie has used every platform — from editorial boards to policy roundtables, from grassroots training programs to national forums — to elevate the profession and advance public health. This award, named in honour of a pioneer, finds its rightful home in the hands of another. In Gyesie, the spirit of Ohene-Manu endures — a torch passed, a flame kept alive.

Final Reflections

Pharmacist Abraham Gyesie has not just lived a career — he has lived a calling. His life is proof that pharmacy is more than pills and prescriptions; it is about people, purpose, and progress. As we celebrate his achievements, we are reminded that the most powerful medicine is often not found in a bottle, but in the hearts of those who dare to serve with integrity and impact.

Congratulations, Pharmacist Gyesie — a true giant whose legacy will echo through generations.