Drawing on a robust background in pharmacy and a knack for innovation, he's taking on the core challenges of the pharmaceutical industry. His startup uses technology to broaden access to medications and boost the efficiency of local pharmacies.

George Kesse (photo), a trained pharmacist and Ghanaian medical technology entrepreneur, is the driving force behind AdvancePharma Innovations. As founder and CEO of the startup, established in 2020, Kesse aims to enhance medicine accessibility and affordability in community pharmacies through digital solutions.

AdvancePharma Innovations focuses on developing technological tools to bolster pharmacies' digital infrastructure and regulatory systems. Its offerings include a digital platform for medicine traceability and verification, enabling pharmacies to track and analyze supply chain data. This information, in turn, facilitates improved care management, supports patient adherence to treatment, and assists in the management of chronic diseases.

Kesse earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in 2000. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in health services administration from Strayer University in 2010. In 2020, he completed an executive master’s in business and leadership from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. He also holds a professional certificate in strategic marketing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

His career began in 2001 as an inspector pharmacist at the Pharmacy Council of Ghana. In 2002, he moved to Novartis as a medical representative in Ghana. From 2013 to 2019, Kesse was part of the digital health startup mPharma, initially as country director in Ghana and later as global head of business development. Most recently, from 2020 to 2023, he served as growth lead at BroadReach, a health innovation company.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji