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China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
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The herbal medicine industry in Ghana is growing rapidly. Many people are increasingly aware of the efficacy of traditional medicinal plants and herbs and as an alternative treatment for many diseases, including piles, malaria, snake bite, coughs, and infertility, among others.
The use of traditional medicinal plants and herbs in the preparation of local alcoholic beverages (bitters) is also on the rise. Investments are being made in this area, creating jobs and employment for some Ghanaians.
The good thing is that, scientific preparation of herbal medicines and alcoholic beverages has boosted public confidence in the use and consumption of these herbal preparations and beverages.
The socio-economic importance of the herbal medicine industry could not be underestimated – providing employment opportunities for many Ghanaians in the value chain – researchers, marketers, distributors and consumers.There are many out there who continue to rely on herbal medicine for the treatment of their ailments.
The other high point is the significant contribution of herbal medicines to quality health care delivery in Ghana.
Keeping the industry on the path of sustainable growth is in the interest of everybody and that is why extensive research by scientists in the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) and digitization of indigenous knowledge in the forestry sector in Ghana, is seen as critical.
As stated in the 2017 annual research report of the Institute, "in Ghana, there is hardly any system of recording, documenting and preserving traditional knowledge".
The report noted that forests in Ghana are the stores of natural foods and traditional medicines, but the traditional knowledge about these resources appear to be going extinct.
The study was conducted to help digitize information on traditional foods and medicines in the forestry sector to ensure that the knowledge is preserved for posterity.
Doing this is very important for the herbal medicine and local alcoholic beverage industry. It would allow for access to well documented, scientifically-proven knowledge of the medicinal and nutritional value of the various plants, herbs, shrubs, stems, roots and barks of trees, something vital to aid healthy preparations.
