FDA Trains Herbal Medicine Practitioners in Western North Region.

Western North: The Western North Regional office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has undertaken an initiative to organize training workshops for herbal medicine practitioners in the nine districts of the region. The primary aim of these workshops was to guide unlicensed practitioners towards registering their products and to educate them on the procedures involved in adhering to good manufacturing practices to ensure the production of herbal products that are safe for human consumption.According to Ghana News Agency, the training was conducted in two phases at Wiawso and Enchi, with a total attendance of 137 practitioners. Mr. Albert Ankomah, the Regional Director of the Authority, explained in an interview that the purpose of the workshop was to instruct herbal practitioners on the importance of manufacturing in compliance with FDA's established procedures. Participants were educated on optimal methods for sourcing, storing, and processing raw materials into finished products, as well as record-keepi ng and staff training.Mr. Ankomah urged herbal practitioners who have yet to register their products to do so promptly, noting that producing herbal medicine without a license contravenes the public health act. He also advised consumers to purchase herbal products only from licensed shops to facilitate easier contact tracing and highlighted that the authority cannot ensure the safety of unregistered products.Mr. Joseph Boateng, the Regional Chairman of the Traditional Herbalist Association, commended the FDA for the training, acknowledging that it provided valuable insights into the manufacturing of herbal medicines. He encouraged members who have not registered their products to complete their registrations with the FDA. Participants expressed their appreciation for the training and appealed to the Authority for regular engagements in the future.