Dr. Adu Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of Medimafo Herbal Clinic, has raised concerns about the presence of heavy metals in herbs sourced from mining areas.
These toxic contaminants, including cyanide and mercury, pose a significant risk to the safety and effectiveness of medicinal plants.
Dr. Gyamfi, also known as Dr. Time Daso, warned that the growth of the herbal medicine industry could be hindered if the issue persists. “The plants may be effective for medicinal purposes, but due to the accumulation of heavy metals, they are not safe for consumption,” he said.
Speaking to journalists at his Kumasi office after donating a car, mobile phones, and TV sets to patients in celebration of his birthday, Dr. Gyamfi revealed that contamination is on the rise. He warned that if urgent action is not taken, Ghana might need to import uncontaminated herbal medicines at much higher costs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of people in the developing world rely on traditional medicine for primary healthcare. By 2050, the global herbal products market is projected to be worth US$5 trillion. In Ghana alone, 951 tons of crude herbal medicines were sold in 2010, valued at approximately US$7.8 million, highlighting the importance of herbal medicine to the country’s economy and healthcare system.
However, illegal mining has led to deforestation, reducing the availability of raw materials for herbal practitioners. Dr. Gyamfi emphasized the need for herbalists to consider cultivating medicinal plants and urged the government to intensify efforts to combat illegal mining.
“We need to take action now, or the future of herbal medicine in this country will be bleak,” he stressed.
To ensure the availability of quality herbal medicine, Dr. Gyamfi has established a large plantation in the Offinso area in the Ashanti Region, where he is growing medicinal plants. As part of his birthday celebrations, he also generously donated over 50 plasma TVs, several Android mobile phones, and a brand-new Toyota Yaris to deserving patients who received care at his clinic.
