The President of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH), Dr. (MH) Sandra Ashong, has declared Ghana’s herbal medicine heritage to be the nation’s most undervalued economic asset, capable of outperforming traditional revenue sources if properly harnessed.
Dr. Ashong laid out a compelling comparison that reframes conventional economic thinking. “We are thinking about the cocoa, the gold, agriculture, tourism. Yes, it’s good,” she acknowledged. “But the real wealth, what can actually boost the economy of Ghana is herbal medicine.”
The seasoned medical herbalist anchored her argument in hard numbers, pointing to China’s remarkable success with Traditional Chinese Medicine. “Did you know that China, in the year 2020 alone, exported traditional Chinese medicine to the tune of 5.46 billion dollars.” She let the figure hang in the air before driving home her point: “5.46 billion dollars. Imagine what Ghana can do.”
This vision positions Ghana’s rich biodiversity and centuries-old healing traditions not as cultural artifacts, but as premium export commodities waiting for global market penetration. Dr. Ashong’s perspective challenges policymakers and investors to recognize the sleeping giant in Ghana’s backyard—one that could generate substantial foreign exchange, create skilled employment opportunities, and establish Ghana as a leader in the global herbal medicine industry.
The roadmap to this future, as envisioned by the GAMH president, requires strategic national investment in research and development, quality standardization, intellectual property protection, and international marketing—transforming local healing practices into a sophisticated, high-value industry ready to compete on the world stage.
About the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH):
The Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists is the premier professional body for medically trained herbalists in Ghana. It is dedicated to advancing the herbal medicine sector through scientific research, high standards of practice, and advocacy for its integration into national economic and health plans.
