Gampa Holds Maiden National Conference Amid Landmark Court Victory Over Tmpc

The Ghana Alternative Medical Practitioners Association (GAMPA) convened its first-ever National Conference on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Osu, Accra, bringing together practitioners from across the country's diverse Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) sector at a pivotal moment in the profession's history.

The gathering billed as a Members' Meeting and Networking event under the theme "Uniting Alternative Medical Practitioners for Excellence and Impact” drew representatives from naturopathy, homeopathy, chiropractic care, Ayurveda, food supplementation, energy healing, spa therapy, yoga and meditation, nutrition therapy, and massage. The event also featured the presentation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificates and membership certificates to GAMPA practitioners, underscoring the association's drive toward formalization and professional standards.

The conference came days after a significant legal development. The Accra High Court dismissed an application by the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) seeking to strike out a lawsuit filed by GAMPA, ruling that GAMPA's claims raise serious legal issues deserving full trial and determination. GAMPA had argued that CAM practices do not fall under the jurisdiction of TMPC, and that TMPC's assumption of regulatory authority over CAM practitioners is ultra vires, unlawful, null and void. The court adjourned the matter to July 15, 2026, for application for directions, where issues for trial and further case management will be determined.

A Profession Coming of Age
In a keynote address at the conference, Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, Esq., General Secretary of GAMPA, struck a tone of measured confidence, calling on practitioners to embrace humility, lifelong learning, and professional excellence as the sector navigates a critical period. Drawing on the famous Zen parable of the overflowing teacup, he urged practitioners to remain open to growth despite the pressures facing the profession.

"Every emerging industry experiences periods of uncertainty, resistance, misunderstanding, and even conflict before achieving maturity," Prof. Nyarkotey told delegates.

"The legal profession went through it. The nursing profession went through it. The pharmacy profession went through it. Today, Alternative and Complementary Medicine in Ghana is going through its own growing pains. This is not a sign of failure it is often a sign of growth."

Addressing widespread concerns that regulatory disputes signal hostility toward the CAM sector, Prof. Nyarkotey was categorical. "GAMPA is not at loggerheads with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council," he said.

"Our vision is not confrontation. Our vision is cooperation. Our vision is dialogue. Our vision is a regulatory framework that respects the diversity of healthcare practices while ensuring patient safety and professional standards."

The GAMPA-TMPC Legal Battle
The backdrop to the conference is a protracted legal contest over regulatory jurisdiction. Prof. Nyarkotey, who recently qualified as a barrister and solicitor in The Gambia, has been leading GAMPA's legal challenge, arguing that TMPC is misinterpreting the Traditional Medicine Practice Act (Act 575). The Act was passed to regulate traditional medicine, not alternative medicine.

A 2010 letter from the Attorney General's office, addressed to the Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, explicitly stated that Act 575 does not regulate the practice of alternative medicine, and that Cabinet had approved a new bill the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Bill to provide for the establishment of a separate Traditional and Alternative Medicine Council to promote, control, and regulate both disciplines. That bill has yet to be enacted, leaving CAM practitioners in a prolonged regulatory grey zone.

According to GAMPA, several practitioners have suffered regulatory harassment, threats of prosecution, fear of business closure, and reputational injury as a result of TMPC's enforcement activities. The High Court, in dismissing TMPC's strike-out application, found these allegations sufficient to constitute a reasonable cause of action.

The ruling is being viewed as an important procedural victory for GAMPA and CAM practitioners seeking judicial clarification on the regulatory scope of TMPC under Ghanaian law.

Conference Highlights and Broad Participation
The conference's chairman, Dr. E.N. Mensah, delivered a keynote on the history of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ghana. Drawing on his experience in public health administration, he recalled that the Ministry of Health once considered separate legislative frameworks for traditional medicine and alternative medicine, with draft bills developed to reflect their differing philosophies, training systems and regulatory needs.

The conference also drew goodwill messages from the traditional medicine sector. Representing the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM), Okogye Abibiduro Nana Obiri praised the event as a landmark for the industry and called for closer cooperation between traditional and alternative medicine practitioners to strengthen advocacy and grow indigenous and complementary healthcare.

The president of the Homeopathic Practitioners Association of Ghana (HPAG), Dr. Adu Boateng, also conveyed warm appreciation for the gathering on behalf of his organization.

"The conference demonstrated the growing importance of integrative healthcare and highlighted the significant contributions of alternative medicine towards improving the health and well-being of Ghanaians," Dr. Boateng said, adding that he looked forward to continued collaboration with GAMPA on professional standards, public education, research, and policy development.

GAMPA's executive leadership at the conference included President Dr. Albert Arthur, Vice President Dr. Ernest Asante, and General Secretary. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, Esq., alongside representatives of member associations spanning homeopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, and other disciplines.

The Road Ahead
Alternative medicine in Ghana remains largely unregulated and is treated separately from traditional medicine, which falls under the Traditional Medicine Practice Act. The sector has taken some steps toward formalization, including TMPC's first naturopathy licensing examinations in 2025.

However, the unresolved question of which regulatory authority properly governs CAM practitioners continues to cast uncertainty over the sector.

The July 15 court date will be watched closely by practitioners, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders across the country. If GAMPA's lawsuit succeeds, it would strip TMPC of authority over a significant segment of health practitioners and potentially require the establishment of a separate regulatory body for alternative medicine.

For Nyarkotey and GAMPA's membership, the maiden national conference was more than a meeting it was a statement of intent.

"The future of alternative medicine in Ghana will not be determined merely by what others say about us," he told delegates.

"It will be determined by our competence, our ethics, our research, our professionalism, and our unity."

Mustapha Bature Sallama.
Medical/ Science Communicator, Member GAMPA
Private Investigator, Criminal investigation and Intelligence Analysis.
International Conflict Management and Peace Building.USIP
mustysallama@gmail.com
+233-555-275-880

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