Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, CEO of COA Research and Manufacturing Limited and newly sworn-in Board Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, has pledged to lead a transformation in Ghana’s traditional medicine sector through science, research, and international standardization.
Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony of new board members under the Ministry of Health, Professor Duncan described his appointment as a great opportunity to uplift the image of traditional medicine in Ghana. He emphasized the need to modernize production processes, standardize products, and adopt internationally recognized protocols to position traditional medicine as a key economic and health asset.
“About 60 to 70 percent of the population rely on traditional medicine. Improving its use through research is key,” he stated, adding that “everything is science,” and that traditional medicine can only thrive when grounded in evidence-based research and global best practices.
He unveiled an ambitious “Green Gold Agenda,” which focuses on exploring the untapped medicinal potential of Ghana’s plant resources. According to Professor Duncan, “every plant you see has some potential.” The agenda seeks to transform natural plant-based remedies into globally accepted health solutions, thereby unlocking billions of dollars in value.
“The green gold agenda is more valuable than the yellow gold because you can live without gold, but you cannot live without plants,” he said. He urged stakeholders to support efforts to add value to local medicinal products and project them onto the international stage.
