Accra, July 10, GNA - Two books on medicinal plants to guide traditional medicine practitioners in the collection and preservation of plants were on Thursday, launched with a call for a concerted approach to address the problem of the depletion of the forests. Mr Issa Ketekewu, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, made the call in Accra when he launched the books at a day's seminar for members of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (GHAFTRAM) He said the activities of traditional medicine practitioners together with the excessive destruction of the habitat by illegal chain saw operators; bushfires; mining; charcoal production and agricultural activities had combined to deprive the forest of medicinal plants. Mr Ketekewu said such illegal activities had also made these wild plants become endangered species. Mr Ketekewu said it was unfortunate that despite the pivotal role played by herbal medicine in the delivery of primary health care, many practitioners in the field continued to apply unscientific methods, which relied unacceptably on wild plants for their basic raw materials. He urged all stakeholders to avail themselves of the information provided in the manuals to enable them to improve upon the quality and standards of their products.

Mr Ketekewu also reminded Association to work hard to rid it of quack practitioners, who tended to bring the image of the profession into disrepute.

The books, Manual for the Propagation and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants and A Handbook for the Harvesting, Preparation and Storage of Medicinal Plants would serve as a guide in the course of their work for quality health care delivery and conserve the forest as well.

The writing of the two books was the outcome of a three-year project embarked on by the Aburi Botanical Gardens under the theme: "Conserving and Cultivating Medicinal Plants in Ghana 1999-2002".

The project is to facilitate the cultivation and commercialisation of locally grown medicinal plants and assist local communities to preserve their natural resources for sustainable use by all generations.

Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Health, called for the running of training programmes for commercial plant collectors, transporters and small manufacturers who were currently creating markets for themselves.

Mr George Owusu-Afriyie, Chief Officer of the Department of Parks and Gardens, said the practice whereby herbal practitioners and distillers peeled off the bark of trees like the mahogany for bitters and concoctions killed them.

He said the practice of herbal practitioners collecting various parts of plants and not replacing them contributed to the loss of biodiversity.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie advised herbal practitioners and distillers to establish their own nurseries and farms to help achieve conservation. Dr Anthony Normeshie, President of GHAFTRAM, urged all traditional herbal practitioners to take the propagation and harvesting programmes seriously to enable them to contribute their quota to the development of health care delivery of the nation.