Manufacturers of herbal medicine who are in good standing have come together to form an association called the Herbaceuticals Society of Ghana.

The Society consist of top herbal medicine manufactures in the country such as Givers Herbal, Greenfield Clinic, Time Herbal, Tinattete Herbal, Edu Herbal, Baah Herbal, COA mixture, Medimafo Time da so, Dr Mensah Herbal Clinic and Princefield farms.

Speaking at the official launch of the Herbaceuticals Society of Ghana at Elmina in the Central region, Dr Solomon Kwabi, Chairman of the Society and CEO, Givers Industries explained that, the mission of the Association is to ensure the best and safe practice of herbal medicines and its related natural treatments such as homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture through good manufacturing practices of natural medication and its administration.

“The vision of this Association is to see our various health centers among the top competing brands in Ghana and the world at large in few years to come, to create a holistic approach to healthcare that integrates the expertise of herbal producers and clinicians, fostering wellness and resilience in individuals and communities”, he said.

Dr Kwabi was happy that the Association was formed to help promote herbal medicine in the country, urging all key stakeholders to come on board to help achieve their aims and objectives.

He said, the Association would for instance help bridge the gap between herbal medicine producers and clinicians to promote mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration.

“This collaborative effort aims to leverage the strengths of both herbal producers and clinicians to improve healthcare outcomes and promote well-being for individuals and communities”, he added.

He said, as part of the objectives of the Association, a welfare group called the Billionaire Elite Society has been created to support members of the group if the need arises.

On his part, Dr Bright Okoh, CEO, Greenfield Scientific Herbal Clinic and General Secretary of the Association explained that, the aims and objective of the Association is to support and empower herbal producers through education, training, and networking opportunities.

He said, they would also advocate for policies that promote ethical and environmentally sustainable herbal cultivation and harvesting practices.

“We also seek to promote research and innovation in herbal production techniques, quality control, and product development as well as raising awareness about the value of herbal medicine and its role in healthcare and wellness”, he said.

He revealed that the Association would help advocate for policies and regulations that support the safe, effective, and equitable integration of herbal medicine into mainstream healthcare.

Dr Okoh added that, the Association would conduct research and clinical trials to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of herbal interventions.

‘We will also help foster collaboration and partnerships within the herbaceuticals society of Ghana and with related sectors to strengthen the value chain and market access and we will uphold high standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical business practices among members”, he assured.

Speaking on the theme “Collectively advancing the growth, quality and credibility in the herbal sector”, Mr Eric Karikari, Head of Laboratory at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) noted that, regulation is key to enable the Association achieve good manufacturing practices which forms part of its vision.

He disclosed that, to ensure good manufacturing practices of herbal medicine, what is needed is quality, safety and the efficacy, and the Authority is ever ready to help members of the Association walk along that line .

“The Association has a good vision and mission statement and if they stick to it will help in the improvement of quality and efficacious herbal medicine on the Ghanaian market”, he said.

He said many Ghanaians are known to be using herbal medicine and the FDA would continue to provide the needed technical support while addressing their concerns to help the industry grow.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (GHAFTRAM), Nana Kojo Obiri who endorsed the Herbaceuticals Society of Ghana also promised to offer any needed support to help the Association promote the manufacturing of traditional herbal medicines in Ghana.