The Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) has joined calls for the government to immediately put a stop to illegal mining, warning that galamsey activities are contaminating plants used in traditional medicine.
Speaking at the 26th Traditional Medicine Week in Ghana, themed “Strengthening the Evidence Base for Traditional Medicine,” GHAFTRAM President Professor Samuel Ato Duncan highlighted the dangers posed by toxins from illegal mining.
“The toxic materials that are used by the galamsey operators largely affect all the areas that they operate, so it affects every plant that grows there. When you use those plants to manufacture any medicine, it means that you are bringing in toxins as well as heavy metals, and that is not safe for human consumption,” he said.
Prof. Duncan further urged practitioners to cultivate their own farms away from mining sites to ensure the safety and quality of herbal medicines.
“There is a need for practitioners to have their own farms far from the galamsey sites so that you can have quality materials for herbal medicine production,” he added.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
