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Editorial

 Obtain license before practising traditional medicine

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 People suffer from a variety of health problems, and instead of consulting with medical professionals who are competent to treat them, they prefer to take var­ious concoctions from unqualified people, which ultimately makes their condition worse.

The Traditional Medicine Prac­tice Council (TMPC) has expressed concern and warned practitioners of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine that neglect to obtain or renew their licenses from the council may be subject to legal action.

The Spectator is happy about this move because controlling Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP) will restore sanity to the system, as more and more people choose traditional rather than mainstream medicine.

The term “traditional medicine” describes the knowledge, abilities, and procedures utilised in the pres­ervation of health as well as the di­agnosis, treatment, and prevention of physical and mental illness.

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These methods are founded on the theories, beliefs, and life ex­periences that are native to many cultures.

The alert was sent out on August 31, on the occassion of African Traditional Medicine Day, which is observed every year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) creat­ed the Day in 2003 to honour the significance of traditional medicine in Africa and to encourage its incor­poration into all of the continent’s national health systems.

According to the council, 70–80 per cent of people use herbal medicines as their major source of healthcare, making them the most widely used type of traditional medicine.

As to Section 9 of the TMPC Act, 2000 (Act 575), it is impermissible for an individual to manufacture herbal medicine for commercial purposes or run a business as a practitioner without first register­ing with the council.

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In order to enhance public safety when administering herbal medications, it is crucial that herb­al practitioners follow the Council’s recommendations and renew or ob­tain licenses from the organisation.

This is due to the fact that regulated practice would improve and promote the THPs’ meaningful participation in primary healthcare operations.

Most importantly, for millions of people, particularly in rural areas, traditional medicine and THPs are essential parts of the healthcare field.

Additionally, obtaining a license before practice will be extremely beneficial to herbalists as it will spare them from the harsh conse­quences of breaking the law.

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The Spectator concurs with the Council that making safe and effective traditional medicines available could play a significant role in expanding access to health­care services, as one-third of the population does not have access to vital medications.

Without a doubt, this will have a significant positive impact on Gha­naians’ health and wellbeing.

Whatever it may be, traditional medicine is here to stay and will continue to play a significant role in the healthcare systems of many communities, so the correct proto­cols must be followed to guarantee everyone’s safety.

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Editorial

No life should be lost over allegations

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Dear Editor,

The recent death of Nana Yaw, also known as Dinero/Terry, has left various communities deeply shaken over the circumstances under which a life was lost.

Reports suggest that he went missing after a phone transaction in Teshie and was later found dead. Allegations have circulated that he visited a female friend despite having a pregnant wife at home.

Even if such allegations were true, does that mean he deserved to die? The answer is no. Infidelity is a moral failing, but it is not a crime punishable by death. To suggest otherwise is to normalize violence and diminish the value of human life.

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This tragedy should remind us of the urgent need for justice and accountability. His family especially his expectant wife deserves compassion, not judgment. As a community, we must reject victim‑blaming and focus on preventing such senseless losses in the future.

Nana Yaw’s death is not just a personal tragedy, it is a call to action. 

We must demand thorough investigation, ensure those responsible are held accountable, and commit ourselves to building a society where disagreements and mistakes do not end in violence.

Princess Wonovi, 

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Editorial

Take quick action to rebuild Percheyire R/C Basic School

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The situation at Percheyire R/C Basic School in the Yilo Krobo district is a warning concerning Ghana’s rural education facilities as pupils in Primary four through six are forced to learn inside a building of mud walls, worn-out roofing sheets, and rotting wooden pillars.

It is more than just an infrastructural shortfall. It indicates a fundamental failing of public safety and educational justice. 

Every day, when pupils and teachers arrive at school, their safety is in danger because a school building has such fundamental flaws that it could collapse during a storm.

The classroom is now a hazard rather than a haven for learning for the 30 upper primary pupils and their teachers. A single extreme weather event could cause a mud construction to fall dangerously because it depends on makeshift timber pillars. 

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These children are routinely deprived of the instructional hours that the national curriculum promises them when the arrival of rain inevitably necessitates the suspension of classes to save lives, books, and furniture. 

A deeper systemic problem is revealed when Rev. Elizabeth Korasare, a former teacher, reveals that this identical arrangement has not changed in 38 years. 

Some proponents contend that local government institutions like the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the District Assembly are solely to blame for the main failure. Actual rehabilitation has been postponed due to administrative inactivity, despite official site visits and reports submitted by the school administration. 

According to this viewpoint, there is a problem with the way emergency educational funds are allocated and prioritised when a community school is left in a dangerous condition for decades while waiting for budgetary allocations.

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This point of view highlights the necessity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and public-private collaborations. When state machinery fails, supporters contend that combining corporate money with citizen mobilisation provides a more flexible way to replace deteriorating structures.

It is a pity that Percheyire R/C Basic School’s surrounding infrastructure worsens the school’s structural deterioration. Children travelling from nearby communities like Togodo are severely restricted in their access due to an inadequate road network.

When more than 60 school-aged children in a single nearby town are cut off from regular attendance due to distance and bad roads, the school’s capacity to raise the district is substantially limited. A contemporary classroom block will only be successful if students can get there safely.

The lives of Percheyire’s pupils and teachers are at risk, therefore the Spectator is pleading with the Yilo Krobo District Assembly and other interested parties to rebuild the primary block.

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