Cape Coast:The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has closed three herbal medicine shops in Cape Coast for operating with expired licences. The affected establishments include Pennah Herbal Shop, Dank Natural Healthcare, and God is Able Herbal Centre.
According to Ghana Web, the closures are part of a nationwide enforcement initiative aimed at ensuring that herbal medicine practitioners adhere to regulatory standards and protect consumers from potential health risks. Nicholas Annan, the TMPC's Compliance, Enforcement and Inspection Officer, highlighted that some of these shops had operated with expired licences for three to four years without renewal.
Annan explained that the inspections were conducted to verify whether herbal medicine operators had valid licences and were compliant with industry regulations. He emphasized that the operators have been instructed to visit the Council's office to renew their licences before they can resume operations. Follow-up inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance before the shops are allowed to reopen.
He further clarified that the enforcement exercise aims to uphold public health and safety standards within the traditional medicine industry, ensuring that all practitioners are properly licensed and operating according to regulations. The Council plans to maintain ongoing monitoring and inspection efforts to prevent future occurrences of expired licence operations.
Annan also mentioned that while the current operations are based in Cape Coast, similar enforcement activities are being carried out in other regions as part of the broader effort to regulate the traditional medicine sector nationwide.