The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called on members of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) to adhere strictly to standards in their practices.
He emphasised that traditional or herbal medicines remain an important alternative for Ghanaians, but the sector continues to face challenges related to efficacy, dosage, and hygienic practices.
“One of the reasons traditional medicines have become an issue has been the lack of standards. You buy a herbal product and you don’t know the quantity to take. Sometimes the medicine is said to cure many ailments and diseases,” the Minister said.
Mr. Akandoh made the remarks during a stakeholder meeting with the TMPC leadership, representatives of practitioner associations, and other members, aimed at improving and creating value for the sector.
He urged the Council to collaborate and invest in the sector by learning from international best practices, citing examples from China and India.
“Ghana’s traditional medicines sector cannot reinvent the wheel but can collaborate locally and internationally to access the best technology, expertise, and machinery for advanced health care delivery,” he said.
He further noted the economic potential of the sector, highlighting its role in the 24-hour economic agenda and its capacity to contribute to health care, job creation, rural development, and export earnings.
Chairman of the TMPC Governing Council, Samuel Ato Duncan, said Ghana’s traditional and alternative medicine sector had grown dynamically and could position the country as a centre of excellence for integrated health and wellness tourism in West Africa.
He called on practitioners to ensure quality assurance, professional practices, safety, protection of biodiversity, and evidence-based therapies. He added that the Council’s registration, licensing protocols, and Codes of Ethics ensured that qualified practitioners delivered care at elevated standards.
Mr. Duncan also highlighted ongoing curriculum reviews for traditional medicine training institutions to align with best practices and integrate modern science.
He added, “We must strengthen research partnerships, improve supply chains, and enhance our visibility on both domestic and international markets. Partnerships with the Food and Drugs Authority on herbal medicine quality control and with the Ghana Standards Authority on production standards are necessary.”
Mr. Duncan, who also serves as President of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM), said the TMPC would conduct a nationwide registration audit to update the practitioner database and remove unqualified operators.
He announced plans to launch an annual Traditional Medicine Research Symposium, co-organised with leading universities, to translate indigenous knowledge into validated therapies.
Practitioner associations present at the meeting included GHAFTRAM, Herbalists, Traditional Birth Attendants, Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners, Naturopaths, and other allied groups, alongside officials from the Ministry of Health.
Source: GNA
