The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has begun compiling a national database of shrines, religious sites and their operators as part of efforts to document Ghana’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
Chief Registrar at the Ministry, Baafi Nsiah, urged traditional authorities and practitioners to cooperate with the exercise to ensure accurate data collection.
Speaking at a mass registration, licensing and sensitisation programme for traditional, indigenous and faith-based healing practitioners in the Ashanti Region, Mr Nsiah said the database would support regulation, planning and recognition of traditional and faith-based institutions.
He said the exercise would also identify shrines with historical and cultural significance for possible development into tourist attractions.
“Beyond documentation, we want to protect these spaces and use them as avenues to promote our culture and heritage to the next generation,” he stated.
The programme, held at the Kumasi Centre for National Culture, was organised by the Trado-Afrikan Faith Healers Association in collaboration with the Ministry and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council.
Registrar and CEO of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, Dr Yakubu T. Yusuf, said the registration and licensing exercise formed part of efforts to formalise the traditional healing sector, safeguard public health and eliminate quackery.
He cautioned practitioners against operating without valid licences, warning that offenders could face fines, imprisonment or both under the Traditional Medicine Practice Act.
“We are not here to witch-hunt anyone. Our goal is to recognize legitimate practitioners, give them legal backing, and ensure that the services they provide are safe for the public,” he said.
He urged traditional and faith-based healers to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise to regularise their practices.
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