Don’t neglect herbal medicine – Gov't told

Christian Kwasi Agyeman, CEO of Taabea Company Ltd - producers of Taabea Herbal Mixture – has expressed grave concern over the seeming neglect of the herbal industry by the government, stressing the need for the government to support the industry to grow beyond the borders of Ghana.

Mr Agyeman, who is also the National Chairman of Universal Ghana Herbal Manufacturers’ Union (UGHEMU), said the herbal industry, despite its laudable contribution to the health of the country, is not being supported adequately by the government – a trend, he noted, was impacting negatively on its growth.

He has, therefore, charged the President Mahama-led government to implement the necessary measures and policies that would generate public interest in the use of herbal medicine in the country, insisting that the herbal industry could boost the country’s economy if the government gave it proper support.

“Herbal medicine is now improving beyond human understanding and this shows why people have accepted the use of it. We call on government to give us a little push to promote the industry,” he said, noting that with government’s support the industry could perform better than it is currently doing.

Mr Agyeman, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, requested that “Government should engage in an effective collaboration with the herbal industry to project the herbal products even beyond the country.”

He added that government should take a central role in the promotion of the medicine in the country just as some Asian countries like India had adopted.

The CEO of Taabea Company also urged government to reduce taxes on the importation of herbal raw materials as a means to support the industry, adding that the expansion of the industry would automatically lead to the creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

As a measure to reduce the importation of orthodox drugs as well as ensure the appreciation of the fast-falling cedi, Mr Agyeman proposed that the government should encourage the use of herbal medicine by way of promoting it.

The Taabea boss estimated that the country’s revenue could grow by a staggering 53 percent if herbal medicine, which has lately taken new technological dimensions, was given the needed attention and support by the state.

Taabea Company Ltd started its operation in 2008 and has grown to become one of the biggest players in the herbal industry, offering direct employment to 74 people and other sales executives across the country.

The company in 2013 was awarded by WHO and GHATFRAM at the Traditional Medicine Awards Day ceremony for promoting traditional medicine in Ghana. The event was sponsored by the Indian government.

The chairman of UGHEMU stated that players in the industry, aside saving human lives, had provided educational scholarships and sponsored educational programmes to communities as part of their social responsibilities.