By Nii Martey M. Botchway
Accra, July 17, GNA – The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has called on massage therapists to uphold the integrity of their profession by providing ethical, safe and quality services that inspire public confidence in licensed massage therapy.
The Council cautioned practitioners against compromising professional standards for financial gain, urging them to respect anatomical boundaries and adhere strictly to approved massage procedures.
It stressed that massage therapy is a regulated healthcare service and should neither be perceived nor practised as a social or sexual activity.
Dr Yakubu Tobor Yusuf, Registrar of the TMPC, made the call during a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training programme organised by the Council for massage therapists in Accra.
He said the Council had observed growing public concern over the misconception that massage therapy involved sexual services, a perception he described as damaging to the profession.
“Practitioners should be proud of the work they do and help change the perception that massage therapy is associated with inappropriate conduct,” he said.
“When people visit a licensed massage therapist, they should be assured of receiving quality and professional care.”
The training formed part of the Council’s licensing requirements under the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000 (Act 575), which mandates it to regulate practitioners, uphold professional standards and ensure public safety through ethical and competent practice.
Participants received training on medico-legal issues, risk management in massage therapy, anatomical boundaries, essential massage techniques, basic Thai and Swedish massage techniques, as well as laws governing traditional, alternative and complementary medicine.
Dr Yusuf explained that while the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) regulates orthodox health facilities, the TMPC is responsible for licensing and regulating practitioners of herbal and alternative medicine, including massage therapists.
He described the programme as the first large-scale training organised specifically for massage therapists, saying the high level of participation reflected the rapid growth of the profession and its contribution to healthcare delivery and employment creation.
According to him, the training was also intended to ensure that practitioners, including foreigners practising in Ghana, understood the legal and professional boundaries governing their work and complied with the country’s laws.
He warned that practitioners who exceeded the limits of professional practice could face disciplinary action, prosecution or imprisonment.
However, he assured registered practitioners that the Council would provide legal support where they were harassed or abused by clients.
“The Council can sue and be sued. We provide legal support where necessary, and where there is criminality, we escalate the matter to the relevant state agencies,” he said.
Speaking on medico-legal issues, Dr Kofi Blankson, Legal Representative of the Tema Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, urged massage therapists to equip themselves with the legal and ethical knowledge required to practise safely, avoid litigation and restore public confidence in the profession.
A massage therapist, Mr Isaac Mbamayen Yikpakuyen, advised practitioners never to use their face, chest, head or pelvis to touch, support or massage clients during treatment.
He stressed the need to obtain clients’ explicit verbal consent before massaging sensitive areas and to observe proper draping techniques by exposing only the specific muscle group being treated.
Mr Michael Lawson, a lawyer, emphasised the importance of maintaining client confidentiality and keeping accurate records, including medical histories, consent forms, treatment notes and referral records.
He said proper documentation was essential in the event of investigations or legal proceedings.
GNA
Nii Martey M. Botchway
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong