Indigenous plants offer Ghanaians an alternative to costly Western medicine

September 3, 2026

Traditional plant-based medicine is experiencing renewed importance in Ghana as Western pharmaceutical costs increase, with 60-70 percent of Ghanaians relying on these markets for healthcare. Indigenous Ga and Twi tribes have passed down knowledge of medicinal plants through generations, which vendors—primarily rural women—bring to markets in the capital city of Accra each morning. The government-established Center for Plant Medicine Research validates traditional practitioners' knowledge through scientific methods and treats approximately 16,000 patients monthly at its clinic.

Who is affected

Indigenous Ga and Twi tribes in Ghana
60-70 percent of the Ghanaian population (particularly rural communities)
Rural Ghanaian women who harvest and sell medicinal plants
Traditional medicine practitioners
Dr. Kofi Donkor and researchers at the Center for Plant Medicine Research
Patients at the Center's outpatient clinic (approximately 16,000 monthly)
Patience, a plant healer in Accra
Vendor Yaa Akpe
West Africans more broadly

What action is being taken

Rural women are harvesting medicinal herbs from bush areas and cultivated plots early morning and selling them in Accra markets
The Center for Plant Medicine Research is treating roughly 16,000 patients per month at their outpatient clinic
Botanical researchers at the Center are studying a full panel of West African plants for disease treatment capabilities
Traditional medicine practitioners are prescribing plant-based remedies to patients
Patience is treating friends and family with traditional plants for various illnesses

Why it matters

This matters because traditional plant-based medicine provides accessible and affordable healthcare to the majority of Ghana's population, particularly as Western pharmaceutical and medical care costs rise. The practice preserves valuable Indigenous knowledge passed down through generations while contributing to universal healthcare goals in developing countries. Scientific validation of traditional knowledge through research adds international legitimacy to Indigenous practices and creates sustainable healing options. The traditional medicine market addresses healthcare inequity by serving rural communities where Western pharmacies may be too expensive or geographically distant, ensuring primary healthcare reaches 80 percent of rural populations in developing countries.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices