“Ghana’s Healthcare Future Rests on Harnessing Plant Medicine Heritage, Says Prof Ato Duncan”

Story by Fada Amakye

The Executive President and CEO of COA Healthcare Centres in Ghana, Prof Ato Duncan, has emphasized the importance of plant medicine in Ghana’s healthcare system. Speaking at the opening of the 50th anniversary conference of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Prof Duncan highlighted the need to preserve, validate, and advance Ghana’s rich heritage of plant medicine.

The conference theme, “Plant Medicine Research: Harnessing Our Heritage for Health and Wealth,” reflects the country’s commitment to leveraging its biodiversity to improve health outcomes and create economic opportunities. Prof Duncan announced two initiatives: the West Africa Traditional Medicine Corporation Exchange Center and the West Africa’s first National Teaching Hospital for Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

The hospital will set new standards in clinical care, research, and training, integrating traditional medicine with modern science. Prof Duncan outlined five strategic pillars for the centre’s future: research excellence, education and training, quality and regulation, economic development, and collaboration.

He emphasized the importance of robust research, new partnerships, and sustainable practices rooted in Ghana’s culture. Prof Duncan called on stakeholders to seize the moment and invest in traditional medicine, transforming Ghana’s heritage into a source of health and prosperity for the country and beyond.