FDA Warns Herbal Medicine Producers: End Exaggerated Claims or Face Prosecution
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a stern warning to herbal medicine manufacturers and marketers across Ghana to desist from making exaggerated and unverified claims about their products. The regulatory body cautioned that any producer found advertising false curative properties without scientific validation will face severe sanctions, including arrest, product seizure, and possible prosecution.
According to the FDA, this renewed warning follows a surge in misleading advertisements, particularly on social media and local radio, where several herbal practitioners have been claiming that their concoctions can “cure all forms of diseases,” including hypertension, diabetes, infertility, and even HIV/AIDS. Officials say such claims not only endanger public health but also undermine confidence in legitimate herbal medicine businesses that follow proper procedures.
Addressing journalists in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, said the Authority will intensify nationwide surveillance and clamp down on unscrupulous producers and advertisers who disregard the law. She stated that the FDA is working closely with the Ghana Police Service, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the Ghana Traditional Medicine Practice Council to monitor advertisements and take immediate action against violators.
“The FDA will not sit idle while people take advantage of the public’s trust to promote unapproved herbal remedies. We have noticed the growing trend of exaggerated claims on radio and social media platforms, and this is misleading the public and putting lives at risk,” Dr. Darko emphasized.
She explained that while the FDA supports the growth of the herbal medicine industry and values its contribution to healthcare, every product must undergo proper scientific testing and registration before being sold or promoted as a treatment for any condition.
Dr. Darko reminded producers that Ghana’s Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) strictly prohibits the advertisement of unregistered medicines or the making of false or misleading claims. Section 129 of the Act makes it an offense for any person to advertise a product in a manner that suggests it has properties or benefits that have not been scientifically verified. Violators risk fines, imprisonment, or both.
The Authority has also observed that some producers attempt to evade regulation by distributing products through online platforms or selling them informally in markets and buses. The FDA cautioned that digital promotion does not exempt a product from regulatory requirements. Every medicine, whether imported or locally produced, must be duly approved and registered before being marketed to the public.
Dr. Darko urged media houses to support the FDA’s enforcement efforts by refusing to air or promote unapproved herbal products. She emphasized that radio and television stations that allow such advertisements could also face sanctions from the NCA and the National Media Commission (NMC).
“We are calling on all broadcasters to verify the FDA registration status of products before airing such advertisements. Promoting unapproved medicines is a direct violation of the law and a disservice to public health,” she warned.
The FDA’s move has sparked debate among herbal practitioners, with some welcoming the decision as a necessary step to sanitize the sector, while others view it as an attempt to stifle traditional medicine. Representatives of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) have expressed readiness to collaborate with the FDA to weed out quacks, but they are urging the Authority to provide more technical support and education for genuine practitioners to meet regulatory standards.
The Federation noted that while some practitioners deliberately mislead the public, many are unaware of the proper registration and advertising protocols required by law. They called on the FDA to extend its regional outreach programs to sensitize local herbal producers, especially in rural areas where informal sales and traditional healing practices are widespread.
Industry observers argue that the issue goes beyond regulation, it is about restoring trust in Ghana’s herbal medicine market, which has seen significant growth in recent years. According to the Ghana Traditional Medicine Practice Council, over 55% of Ghanaians use herbal remedies either as primary treatment or in combination with conventional medicine. However, fake and exaggerated claims threaten that trust and could deter investment in scientific validation and clinical research.
Public health experts have also applauded the FDA’s crackdown, stressing that untested herbal mixtures can contain toxic substances or interact dangerously with prescribed medications. They noted that consumers often stop taking conventional treatments in favor of “miracle” herbal cures, leading to worsened conditions and preventable deaths.
In a statement, the FDA reiterated that it is not against herbal medicine but against dishonesty and unscientific promotion. The Authority encouraged the public to check the FDA registration numbers on product labels and to report suspicious or unregistered products through its toll-free line or social media platforms.
The warning serves as a strong reminder to herbal practitioners that professionalism, transparency, and scientific validation are the only acceptable paths forward. As the FDA intensifies surveillance and enforcement, the herbal medicine industry now faces a defining moment, to align with regulation or face the full weight of the law.
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