By Frank Kwame Abbor, GNA
Ho, Oct. 30 GNA – The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has urged traditional medicine practitioners to document their knowledge, strengthen professional collaboration and uphold regulatory standards to protect Ghana’s rich medicinal heritage.
Dr Yakubu Yusuf Tobor, the Registrar of the Council, made the call at the Volta Traditional Medicine Heritage Conference in Ho, which also marked the launch of activities for the Council’s 25th anniversary, celebrating 25 years of promoting, controlling and regulating traditional medicine practice in Ghana.
The conference, organised in partnership with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council under the leadership of Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, brought together practitioners, researchers, health professionals, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to discuss the preservation, regulation, research and responsible integration of traditional medicine into the national healthcare system.
Dr Tobor said the knowledge preserved by generations of traditional healers, herbalists and birth attendants remained an important part of Ghana’s heritage and should be documented to prevent its loss and ensure that future generations benefited from it.
He cited the potential of medicinal plants in pharmaceutical research and called for stronger collaboration between traditional practitioners and research institutions to investigate and develop plant-based treatments. He urged practitioners to protect their intellectual property and ensure that Ghana benefited from innovations derived from its indigenous knowledge.
Dr Tobor, however, expressed concern about unqualified practitioners and the spread of unverified claims about herbal products, warning that such practices could undermine public confidence in the profession.
He said the Council would continue compliance activities to ensure that practitioners operate within the required regulatory framework.
He also appealed to traditional medicine associations to resolve their differences and unite to strengthen their collective voice. With more than 30 associations operating in the sector, he said greater cooperation, proper documentation, registration and licensing were necessary to build a credible and sustainable industry.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, strengthen quality assurance and explore ways of preserving Ghana’s traditional medicine heritage while promoting safe, evidence-informed and responsible healthcare practices.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah