Strengthening the Role of Traditional Medicine in Primary Health Care in West Africa: ICASA 2025
The session “Strengthening the Role of Traditional Medicine in Primary Health Care in West Africa,” held in the H.E. John Dramani Mahama Room, brought together leading academics, policymakers, and global health partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of traditional medicine in modern health systems. With the president of the Society for AIDS in Africa, senior directors, and dignitaries present, the conversation underscored a shared commitment: traditional medicine must evolve through science, safety, and innovation.
Efficacy Is Not Enough; Safety Builds Trust
Prof. Isaac Julius Asiedu-Gyekye set the tone with a critical reminder: while many traditional medicines have proven efficacy, safety must be treated with equal seriousness. “Efficacy + Safety = Trust.” He cautioned that certain products on the market pose risks, emphasizing the urgent need for research to understand adverse effects and ensure patient protection. Without this balance, he noted, community confidence in traditional healing weakens.
Technology, Knowledge Transfer, and Manufacturing
Dr. Regina Ackon highlighted the importance of knowledge and technology transfer in strengthening traditional medicine. She stressed that scaling up local manufacturing is essential, not only for strengthening national health sovereignty, but also for ensuring that countries in the region become self-sufficient producers of safe, standardized traditional remedies. Referencing Ghana’s recent National Health Sovereignty Conference, she noted that the government has already begun conversations on expanding local production capacity in partnership with industry and researchers.
Bridging Tradition with Scientific Validation
Prof. Regina Appiah Oppong delivered a pointed reflection on the research gaps limiting traditional medicine’s advancement. She explained that while many traditional remedies are effective and widely used, some practitioners resist Research and Development (R&D), a challenge she described as “unfortunate but urgent to address.” She emphasized the need to scientifically determine which medicines are safe and scalable, urging government support to bring validated herbal treatments into mainstream health systems.
Prof. Appiah Oppong also noted that during COVID-19, several traditional formulations provided real relief to communities, evidence of their value when properly assessed and supported.
Regional Policy and Regulatory Frameworks
The session also featured remarks from key institutional leaders:
- Hon. Kwabena Akandoh (Minister of Health, Ghana)—reaffirming the government’s commitment to integrating traditional healing into national health strategies.
- Dr. Angela Ackon (WHO AFRO) emphasized the need for strong regulatory frameworks to guide safe integration of traditional medicine into primary health care.
- Dr. Laurent Assogba added insights on strengthening cross-country collaboration for research, quality assurance, and community trust.
A Unified Vision for West Africa
The discussion highlighted a clear regional vision: Traditional medicine must be preserved, validated, and modernized, not sidelined.
Speakers agreed that the path forward must include:
- Expanding R&D and safety testing
- Strengthening national regulatory systems
- Prioritizing local manufacturing and innovation
- Building practitioner capacity through training
- Creating sustainable partnerships between traditional healers and biomedical institutions
Honoring Tradition. Advancing Science. Protecting Communities.
The session closed with a powerful shared message: Traditional medicine is part of West Africa’s identity, and with the right investments in research, safety, and technology, it can become a cornerstone of the region’s primary health care system.
