Prof. Regina Appiah-Oppong, a toxicologist at the University of Ghana, says Ghana stands to gain significantly if it invests more deliberately in the cultivation and development of medicinal plants for both local healthcare use and export.
Speaking on the AM Show, she noted that plant-based treatments have historically been the foundation of many modern medicines and remain a valuable resource for the country.
According to her, beyond their importance in healthcare delivery, medicinal plants could become a major economic asset if Ghana establishes strong cultivation, processing, and export systems.
“There is so much potential out there,” she said.
“Apart from what we will get from healthcare, even putting the plants together and exporting them alone could bring great benefits to the country.”
Prof Appiah-Oppong explained that while some concerns remain regarding quality control and safety, these issues can be managed through proper standards and regulations.
She added that several known drugs used globally to treat illnesses such as malaria and cancer have origins in plant-based compounds, showing that traditional medicine is closely linked to modern pharmaceutical science.
“It’s interesting because, from malaria to cancer, most of these modern medications trace their roots to plant medicine,” she noted, stressing the need for Ghana to treat medicinal plants as a strategic health and economic resource.
She further suggested that boosting local cultivation could support job creation, improve access to alternative healthcare options, and create new export markets if the right systems are put in place.