The first Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healing Association, now known as the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association was established in 1960 under the auspices of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and reconstituted in 1975 bringing all Practitioners under one umbrella Association.
In 1991, the government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) under the auspices of the Council for Indigenous Business Association (CIBA) set up the National Council of Herbal Medicine, now known as the Ghana National Association of Traditional Healers (GNATH). All these interventions had various limitations which impeded the development of the sector. As a result, in September 1999, the new constitution which brought into being the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations, GHAFTRAM, an umbrella body for all Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations and Societies or Groups was born.
The purpose of the formation of the Federation was to;
Put all the splinter groups of Traditional medicine practitioners under one umbrella Association and yet allow the separate groups to have their own peculiar identities.
Ensure and maintain sanity in traditional medicine practice in Ghana thus the formation of GHAFTRAM National Co-ordination, Monitoring and Evaluation committee.
GHAFTRAM or the Federation after working effectively in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, Ghana had its formal recognition on July 7, 2008 and has been participating in almost all activities under the Ministry. Ever since, the Federation, under various leaderships, have championed the course of Traditional Medicine in Ghana.
AREAS OF COLLABORATIONS
GHAFTRAM seeks partnerships with relevant stakeholders and international organisations in the following areas;
Research Partnerships
Technology/Manufacturing Equipment
Packaging/Branding to meet international standards
Opportunity for exchange programmes
In November 2022, a new crop of National Executives were elected at the annual congress to steer the affairs of the Federation for the next four years and will do everything in its power’s to promote, develop and seek the adherence of relevant regulations governing the practice.
The new national executives are of the firm conviction that traditional medicines, (Plant medicines) hold the prospects for economic prosperity.