The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has shut down three massage spas operated by Chinese nationals in the Ashanti Region for operating without the required licences and documentation.
Accra-based Citi News reported that the facilities, located at Ahodwo and Daban in the Kumasi Metropolis, were shut down during an enforcement exercise targeting massage therapy centres, spas and related businesses.
The Ashanti Regional Regulation Officer of the Council, Divine Azraku, said the operators had failed to obtain the necessary licence before starting their businesses.
“Most of them were Chinese. They were more or less like foreign nationals who were operating in that space. So they’re supposed to acquire our licence, that’s TMPC licence, before they can operate,” he said.
Mr Azraku disclosed that almost all the facilities inspected during the exercise lacked the Council’s licence. The enforcement team consequently closed the affected businesses and posted caution notices at their entrances.
“Almost all of them did not have our licence. So it means that the facilities were closed,” he said.
He explained that anyone seeking to establish a spa or massage facility must obtain a business operating permit and an association card or proof of proficiency, alongside documents demonstrating experience in the profession.
“Before you open a spa, first of all, you’re supposed to acquire a business operating permit, acquire an association card or proof of proficiency, or documentation that indicates that you have experience in that profession,” he said.
Mr Azraku said the affected operators had been instructed to regularise their businesses and complete the required registration procedures before they could resume operations.
They would also be required to pay fines imposed for the violations, he added.
“After the fine has been paid and the necessary registration processes have been done, then we go ahead and open the facilities for them,” he said.
Mr Azraku stressed that the Council was not seeking to prevent people from operating massage and spa businesses but wanted all practitioners to comply with the relevant regulatory requirements.
“We are not against the practice. We are not against the practice. So we want them to acquire the necessary documentation before we can start operating,” he said.
