Madina: The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has taken decisive action against unlicensed herbal and alternative medicine centers in Madina and Ashaiman, effectively shutting down several facilities in a targeted enforcement operation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the enforcement operation led by the TMPC's Compliance and Enforcement Unit (CEU), with support from the Police, resulted in the closure of Bibio Herbal Centre at Madina, My Redeemer Naturopathic Treatment Centre at Ashaiman Jericho, Amuzu Herbal Centre, and K. Duah Herbal Centre in Ashaiman Atadeka. These centers were found operating without the necessary licensing and certification, in violation of the Council's regulations.
The operation also targeted several tabletop herbal vendors, many of whom fled upon the inspection team's arrival. Their herbal products were confiscated, and notices were placed on their tables instructing the owners to report to the TMPC for regularization. In one instance, a herbal medicine hawker named Ben, operating in Madina, had his products seized after admitting he was unaware of the requirement for a hawker's license.
Mr. Michael Lawson, Head of the CEU, explained that the closures were due to expired licenses at Bibio Herbal Centre and My Redeemer Naturopathic Treatment Centre, while Amuzu Herbal Centre was operating with both an expired license and an expired Practitioner certificate. K. Duah Herbal Centre was found to be operating entirely without registration and a valid operating license, posing significant risks to public safety.
Dr. (MH) Yusuf Yakubu, the Registrar of the TMPC, emphasized that the enforcement action aligns with the Council's statutory mandate to regulate traditional medicine practice and protect public health. He stressed the importance of obtaining the appropriate licenses and certification for practitioners, vendors, and hawkers to ensure public confidence and safety in traditional medicine practices.
Dr. Yakubu noted that while public education on compliance is ongoing, enforcement is necessary when practitioners neglect to regularize their operations. He assured that the Council's primary goal is not to shut down businesses but to ensure that traditional medicine is practiced safely and professionally. Furthermore, Dr. Yakubu warned that similar enforcement exercises would continue nationwide, with legal actions against persistent offenders.