As part of efforts geared at ensuring the safety, efficacy, quality and standardization of herbal products and food supplements produced in the country, the School of Pharmacy has held a three-day training programme for herbal practitioners and manufacturers at the University of Ghana.

Participants in a group photograph with some faculty from the School of Pharmacy

In brief remarks at the opening ceremony, the Coordinator of the training programme and Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, Dr. Joseph Adusei Sarkodie welcomed participants. He added that in order for Ghanaian herbal products and food supplements to make significant strides on the international market, there was the need for the products to be of the highest quality and standards. “We are committed to training our practitioners and manufacturers of herbal products and food supplement to ensure that our products are of high quality standards leading to excellent outcomes” Dr. Adusei Sarkodie noted.

Dr. Joseph Adusei Sarkodie, Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine

He indicated that the training would not only translate into boosting consumers’ confidence in the use of herbal products and food supplements but also improve purchases of made in Ghana goods for the development of the nation.

Dr. Isaac Julius Asiedu-Gyekye, Dean, School of Pharmacy and Chair for the ceremony, congratulated organizers for the success of the training since its inception three years ago and encouraged delegates to actively participate to maximize the efficacy, quality and safety of their products. In his remarks, he indicated that Ghanaians depend largely on plants and medicinal resources for their medication, hence the need to improve the quality of herbal products and food supplements.
“It is a known fact that Ghanaians obtain approximately 60% of their medication from plants and medicinal resources. This implies that the future health of Ghanaians or individuals seeking medical help, would be of better quality if herbal preparations and food supplement are of good quality” he said.

Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Asiedu-Gyekye giving the opening remarks

He informed participants that the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate has been upgraded to assess the efficacy of some herbal preparations in order to be included on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) approved drugs.

Dr. Samuel Frimpong-Manso, Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry entreated participants to embrace innovative ways of producing and packaging the herbal products and food supplements.

Dr. Samuel Frimpong-Manso addressing participants

Present at the training programme was Mrs. Susan Fosua Okan Assistant Registrar, School of Pharmarcy, Dr. Kwame Benoit Nguessan Banga, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Dr. Irene Akwo Kretchy, Acting Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy.