The Vice-President of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH) has thrown his weight behind the enforcement of laws prohibiting the sale of medicines in commercial vehicles, calling it a critical measure to protect unsuspecting consumers.
Dr. (MH) Prince Osei’s comments come as a powerful endorsement from within the herbal medicine community itself for existing public health regulations that are often flouted.
“The law is there for a reason: to protect lives,” Dr. Osei stated. “The place that the person is selling the product should be traceable. It should have an address so that if someone takes the product and there is any side effects, the person can go back to the place to seek clarification.”
His argument highlights the dangerous loophole created by illegal sales on buses and trotros. When a product is bought from a hawker on a moving vehicle, the consumer has no recourse.
“So if you buy it in a commercial vehicle and you get side effects, where are you going to locate the person?” Dr. Osei questioned. “This is where the bus driver determines the commercial vehicle. You’re on a long trip and the seller is gone.”
This practice, which remains common despite being illegal, exposes passengers to significant risk. Without a fixed address, there is no way to hold sellers accountable for adulterated, incorrect, or dangerous products. It also undermines legitimate, licensed practitioners who operate from regulated, traceable premises.
Law enforcement and regulators are urged by Dr. Osei’s declaration to take action against these illicit sales. Additionally, it serves as an important public awareness campaign, asking Ghanaians to realize that buying medications from untraceable, mobile sellers is not only against the law, but also a risk to their health.
“We, as ethical practitioners, have a fixed location. We are accountable for what we sell. This is what the public must demand for their own safety,” he concluded.
About the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH):
The Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists is a professional body that represents qualified medical herbalists in Ghana. It is dedicated to promoting the safe, ethical, and scientific practice of herbal medicine in accordance with national laws and regulations.
