The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has shut down about eight facilities across Accra after a 15-day enforcement exercise aimed at clamping down on unlicensed operators within the alternative medicine and wellness sector.
The operation specifically targeted individuals and centres offering services such as herbal treatments, spiritual healing, and other non-conventional therapies without proper certification or regulatory approval.
According to the Council, the move forms part of ongoing efforts to protect public health and ensure that only qualified and licensed practitioners operate within the sector. Authorities say many of the affected facilities failed to meet the required standards or could not provide valid documentation to support their practice.
Officials revealed that some of the closed facilities were also making unverified claims about curing chronic and life-threatening conditions, raising serious concerns about public safety. In certain cases, clients were reportedly being administered unknown mixtures and treatments without proper diagnosis or professional oversight.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, April 23, Head of Compliance at the Council, Michael Lawson, confirmed the scale of the enforcement exercise, stating, “So far since we started, we have closed about eight facilities.”
He explained that the exercise forms part of a broader strategy to sanitize the sector and ensure strict adherence to regulatory standards. Mr Lawson further disclosed that the operation will be expanded beyond Accra to other parts of the country in the coming weeks.
According to him, the expansion is aimed at strengthening oversight, improving public safety, and restoring confidence in traditional and alternative healthcare services nationwide.
He stressed that the crackdown is not intended to discourage traditional medicine practice, but rather to ensure that only qualified and properly licensed practitioners are allowed to operate.
Mr Lawson also urged the public to be vigilant when seeking such services, advising them to verify the credentials of practitioners before patronizing them.
“The public needs to check some of these places when you seek such services if they have licences,” he cautioned.
The TMPC has reiterated that traditional medicine remains a vital part of Ghana’s healthcare system, but emphasized that it must be practiced responsibly and within the confines of the law. Practitioners have therefore been urged to undergo the necessary training, registration, and periodic inspections to ensure quality service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Council has indicated that the enforcement exercise will be sustained, with more inspections, closures, and possible sanctions expected as authorities intensify efforts to rid the sector of unqualified operators and safeguard public health.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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