Traditional medicine practitioners urge investment in herbal research
November 5, 2026 · by CEO Rafamall
Traditional medicine practitioners in Ghana are calling for increased government investment in herbal medicine research and development. They believe this will unlock significant health and economic benefits, strengthen healthcare, and reduce reliance on imported pharmaceuticals. The initiative aims to develop a local herbal pharmaceutical industry.
Traditional medicine practitioners have called for increased government investment in herbal medicine research and development to unlock the health and economic benefits of indigenous medicinal knowledge across Ghana and Africa.
Traditional medicine practitioners have called for increased government investment in herbal medicine research and development to unlock the health and economic benefits of indigenous medicinal knowledge across Ghana and Africa.
The Chairman of the Volta Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Samuel Kofi Awute, popularly known as Dr Atuguba, is proposing the repositioning of traditional medicine through what he describes as Traditional Medicine Intelligence (TMI).
He argues that traditional medicine represents ancient wisdom embedded in nature, particularly in plants, and should not be dismissed as outdated because it predates orthodox medicine.
Dr. Atuguba believes investment in research, including the extraction of medicinal compounds from indigenous plants, could help develop effective herbal treatments, strengthen healthcare delivery and reduce Africa’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical products.
He said the sector also presents significant economic opportunities, with the potential to create millions of jobs and generate substantial revenue for Ghana and other African countries through the development of a local herbal pharmaceutical industry.
“If we can begin to invest in our health sector, especially herbal medicine, we can extract compounds from herbs, isolate their essential components and use them to develop treatments for specific illnesses, just as is done in orthodox medicine.
“Government should pay more attention to herbal medicine. It has the potential to create millions of jobs and generate billions, even trillions, of dollars in revenue.”he said
He also challenged traditional herbal medicine practitioners to document their findings, treatment methods and discoveries to preserve indigenous knowledge and enable the next generation to learn from their experiences and build on what they have established.
https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/11/traditional-medicine-practitioners-urge-investment-in-herbal-research/
Frequently asked questions
Why are traditional medicine practitioners calling for investment in herbal research?
They are calling for investment to unlock the health and economic benefits of indigenous medicinal knowledge, strengthen healthcare delivery, and reduce Africa’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical products.
Who is Dr. Atuguba?
Dr. Atuguba is Samuel Kofi Awute, the Chairman of the Volta Traditional Medicine Practitioners, who is proposing the repositioning of traditional medicine through 'Traditional Medicine Intelligence' (TMI).
What economic opportunities does herbal medicine research present for Ghana?
Investment in herbal medicine research has the potential to create millions of jobs and generate substantial revenue for Ghana and other African countries through the development of a local herbal pharmaceutical industry.
What is Traditional Medicine Intelligence (TMI)?
TMI is a concept proposed by Dr. Atuguba to reposition traditional medicine, recognizing it as ancient wisdom embedded in nature, particularly in plants, which should not be dismissed as outdated.
What role do practitioners have in preserving indigenous knowledge?
Practitioners are challenged to document their findings, treatment methods, and discoveries to preserve indigenous knowledge and enable future generations to learn and build upon their experiences.
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