CENTRAL REGION FDA MEETS GHANA FEDERATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS (GHAFTRAM)

The Central Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority, on the 14th October, 2020, held a stakeholders' meeting with the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (GHAFTRAM) at Mankesim. The agenda of the meeting was to highlight the observations made by the FDA regarding registration of their Herbal products and also to educate them on the regulatory activities of Herbal medicines.

In attendance were representatives of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), executives and members of GHAFTRAM. The FDA representatives from the Central Regional Office emphasized on the various ways of regulation, the observations made by the FDA concerning unregistered products in the market and the wrong ways of distribution of products.

A number of observations made by the FDA were highlighted, issues of unregistered products seen all over the markets in the region and Ghana, vendors not having records of products sold to the public and products bought from manufacturers were discussed. Membership of GHAFTRAM and the issuance of certificates by the TMPC were also raised. The meeting was very interactive with members who sought clarity asking questions and FDA representatives answering accordingly.

The FDA also educated them on the requirements for Herbal Medicine Registration. In addition, participants were advised to register their business first before starting the product registration process. Enforcement, education and sensitization were also stated as some of the ways of regulation.

The meeting which took place at Mankesim was attended by Thirty-Six (36) participants including members and executives of GHAFTRAM and staff of FDA Central Regional Office.