The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has shut down 30 traditional medicine facilities across the Ashanti Region in a major nationwide push to clean up Ghana’s alternative healthcare sector
The enforcement exercise exposed severe regulatory violations, including centre managers operating without legal operating permits and employing unqualified, uncertified practitioners to administer care.
The crackdown followed an intensive 10-working-day inspection sweep targeting 55 facilities throughout the region. TMPC inspectors carried out these targeted raids to enforce compliance with the Traditional Medicine Practice Act 2000 (Act 575), which requires all herbal shops, naturopathy centres, and alternative healing clinics to hold valid licenses and employ qualified staff.
Speaking to the media on Friday, July 31, Michael Lawson, Head of Compliance, Enforcement, and Inspection at the Council, stressed that immediate facility closures represent only the first step. He emphasised that affected operators will face harsh administrative sanctions and financial penalties, regardless of whether they lodge formal appeals with the regulator.
To enforce long-term accountability, the Council is partnering directly with its legal department to initiate criminal prosecutions against non-compliant operators. The legal actions will target individuals who offer medical treatments without holding mandatory professional certifications, regulatory credentials, or valid facility licenses.
While dozens of owners of closed facilities are rushing to file appeals in hopes of reopening, regulatory officials refuse to back down. Lawson clarified that appealing a decision will not halt ongoing investigations or shield illegal operators from judicial consequences.
Most of the facilities we have closed have appealed to the Council, Lawson stated. However, the Council is considering sanctions and will pursue the necessary legal action against facilities found to be operating illegally.
By clamping down on uncertified facilities and holding rogue practitioners accountable, the TMPC aims to eliminate substandard care and restore public confidence in Ghana’s healthcare system. Officials plan to extend these rigorous enforcement exercises to other regions nationwide in the coming months.
