Accra, Ghana – Renowned Naturopathic Professor and Legal Advocate, Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, has made a clarion call on African nations to consider herbal medicine as a strategic tool for economic development and transformation.
Delivering a keynote address at the graduation ceremony of Chartered Economists and Health Economists at the British Council in Accra, Prof. Nyarkotey urged African governments to reset their economies through aggressive investment in herbal medicine research, production, and commercialization.
Speaking on the theme “Resetting Ghana’s Economy Through Herbal Medicine Development”, Prof. Nyarkotey expanded the discussion beyond Ghana’s borders, noting that the entire African continent is endowed with rich biodiversity and traditional medical knowledge systems that remain largely untapped.
“Africa is sitting on a green goldmine,” he emphasized. “We have thousands of medicinal plants with proven therapeutic value, yet we continue to depend on foreign imports and ignore our indigenous wealth.”
Prof. Nyarkotey highlighted four key herbs—hibiscus, moringa, neem, and dandelion—as examples of plants that have high economic value globally but are underutilized locally. According to him, Africa could generate over $10 billion annually by investing in these herbs alone through proper industrialization and global marketing.
“These herbs are not just medicinal; they are economic game-changers. Hibiscus is exported heavily by Mexico. India and China are raking in billions from neem and ayurvedic herbs. Ghana and Africa can do the same—and even better,” he asserted.
He called for the establishment of Herbal Medicine Authorities across African nations, modeled on successful agencies like Ghana’s FDA, to regulate, standardize, and promote traditional medicine both locally and internationally. He further recommended the integration of herbal medicine into national health policies, medical tourism, and education systems.
Prof. Nyarkotey, who is also a barrister and Solicitor of the Superior Courts of The Gambia and President of Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology, challenged African leaders to adopt a new economic vision rooted in indigenous innovation.
“It’s time to decolonize our thinking and embrace the economic power of our traditions. Herbal medicine is Africa’s hope for self-reliance, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings,” he declared.
The event, organized by the Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM) in partnership with the International Certification Center (ICC), was attended by distinguished academics, economists, health professionals, and policymakers from across the region. The graduating class was charged to champion alternative economic models that resonate with Africa’s unique strengths and resources.
Prof. Nyarkotey’s powerful speech has since sparked discussions among stakeholders about reimagining Africa’s economic future through the lens of herbal and traditional medicine.
