The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to raising standards, protecting patients, and promoting the growth of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (TAM) in Ghana.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held on September 4, 2025, at the Ministry of Health auditorium, TMPC brought together 28 associations and more than 100 participants, including policymakers, practitioners, regulators, and the media.
The meeting underscored the central role of traditional medicine in Ghana’s health system, with over 70% of Ghanaians relying on TAM at some point in their lives.
Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, Board Chair of TMPC, stressed the importance of safeguarding the sector, saying:
“Traditional medicine is more than a cultural inheritance—it is a driver of health, jobs, and national identity. We must professionalise and protect it.”
The Minister of Health highlighted government’s support, linking the sector to Ghana’s 24-hour economy agenda. He encouraged practitioners to form cooperatives, cultivate medicinal plants, and invest in herbal research for safer treatments.
To enhance regulation, TMPC announced the rollout of new digital systems to improve registration, licensing, and monitoring of practitioners and products. Stakeholders also pledged to fight misinformation, quackery, and poor standards that threaten public trust.
Resolutions Adopted
Regular stakeholder engagements.
Strict enforcement of registration and licensing.
Stronger guidelines to curb quackery.
Closer collaboration with the Ministry of Health to integrate TAM into the national health system.
Fact Box: Traditional Medicine in Ghana
Act 575 (2000): Establishes TMPC
Market Size (2023): GHC 1.7 billion
Global TAM Industry: $200 billion
WHO: Recognises TAM as vital to universal health coverage
The TMPC says its renewed measures are aimed at building public trust while ensuring traditional medicine plays its rightful role in Ghana’s health and economic development.
