Don't ban selling of herbal medicine in buses

Agona Swedru, (C/R) Oct 16, GNA- Members of the Central Regional branch of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Healers Association have appealed to the government to rescind the decision to ban the sale of herbal medicine on vehicles.

They said the ban would do more harm than good to the people. Mr. Peter Gyamfi, Regional Secretary of the association, accompanied by some executives made the appeal at a press conference attended by more than 50 members at Agona Swedru at the weekend. According to Mr. Gyamfi traditional herbal medicine plays major role in health delivery in the country and said that there are some diseases that orthodox medicines could not cure, except traditional medicine. He mentioned some of the diseases as asthma, diabetes, piles and high blood pressure.

Mr. Gyamfi explained that the association has credible record and therefore they would not create panic in health delivery. He said, it is not true that the sale of traditional herbs on vehicles is the cause of increasing accident rates in the country as being alleged by the National Road Safety Commission. He said most vehicle involved in accidents throughout the country were 207 Benz buses and private cars on which their members did make sales.

Mr. Gyamfi said all their members have had their herbs certified by Plant for Research into Herbal Medicine at Akwampim Mampong and Ghana Standards Board.

He said it was through the sale of herbs on vehicles that the general public could get access to the drugs to cure their ailments. Rev Williams Akomianu, Agona District Chairman of the association who also addressed the conference said the association has formed a taskforce to arrest people who are practicing herbal medicine without license.

He called on those who want to practice herbal medicine to join the association. Rev Akomianu urged them to honour their tax obligation to enable government to generate more revenue for development.