The Chief Regulator of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Dr. Michael Kyeremateng, has submitted a formal petition to the Director of Special Operations at the National Security Headquarters, urging an investigation and prosecution of Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu.
The petition alleges multiple breaches of the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000 (Act 575).
According to the petition, the TMPC is the sole state institution established by law to promote and regulate traditional medicine practices in Ghana.
The council is responsible for setting standards, issuing licenses, and enforcing a code of ethics in the field.
Dr. Kyeremateng’s petition states that Dr. Nyarkotey Obu has engaged in various activities that contravene the provisions of the Act.
Specifically, it is claimed that he has been practicing traditional medicine without the requisite licenses and has misled the public regarding the council’s regulatory authority.
Among the allegations, Dr. Nyarkotey Obu is accused of operating a tertiary institution offering courses in naturopathy without proper accreditation from the TMPC.
The petition further notes that he has failed to renew his licenses for both his herbal pharmacy and educational institution, which lapsed in 2018.
The council’s registrar emphasized that Dr. Nyarkotey Obu’s actions not only violate the law but also pose risks to public health and safety.
The petition requests the National Security to investigate his claims of professional qualifications, including his alleged status as a lawyer and claims of holding a professorial title.
Dr. Kyeremateng however, calls for an investigation to ensure justice is served and to deter similar violations by others in the field of traditional medicine.
The petition has been copied to various stakeholders, including the Minister of Health and members of the TMPC, signaling a concerted effort to uphold the integrity of traditional medicine practices in Ghana.
