The Ministry of Health has marked the 23rd African Traditional Medicine Day and the 26th Traditional Medicine Week with a renewed commitment to strengthening the scientific and regulatory foundations of traditional medicine in Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Director of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Dr Anastasia Yirenkyi, said this year’s theme, “Strengthening the Evidence Base for Traditional Medicine,” reflects the government’s determination to improve research, safety, and the integration of herbal medicine into the national health system.
She pointed to the crucial roles played by the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana, and the University of Health and Allied Sciences.
These institutions, she noted, work closely with the Food and Drugs Authority and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) to ensure product quality and adherence to ethical and regulatory standards.
The President of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations and Chairman of the TMPC, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, also addressed the event.
He outlined key achievements in the sector, including the licensing of more than 6,000 practitioners, certification of over 50 herbal manufacturing facilities, and the establishment of traditional medicine units in 55 district hospitals.
However, he acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly resource limitations and public misconceptions about traditional medicine. He called for stronger collaboration, increased investment and greater protection of indigenous knowledge.
Dr Yirenkyi, speaking on behalf of the Ministry, reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing evidence-based traditional medicine to support both national health outcomes and economic development.