KNUST Herbal Medicine Department Unveils Renovated Office and Boardroom
The Department of Herbal Medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has commissioned its newly renovated department office and boardroom, following a sponsorship from the Chief Executive Officer of Medimafo Herbal Clinic, T. Dr. Atuahene Boateng.
Held at the Faculty of Pharmacy Conference Room, the brief but significant ceremony brought together faculty members, students, and invited guests to witness the formal opening of the refurbished space. The upgrade will enhance administrative operations and create a more conducive environment for staff and student engagement.
Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Samuel Asare Nkansah, appreciated the benevolence of the donor and encouraged other stakeholders to emulate the gesture and do the same.
Professor Kingsley Amponsah, Head of the Department of Herbal Medicine, spoke of the donation: “The university is doing so much, looking at the infrastructure here at KNUST, but we still need more and therefore look elsewhere for inspiration to make the office befitting and take it to other areas of need in the faculty,” he stated.
“I must say that we are very grateful, and we can now sit in here and work and dream greatness for KNUST and Mother Ghana, and we are indebted to the support given to us by Dr. Atuahene Boateng,” he added.
Professor Amponsah also called for holistic manufacturing and the dispelling of misconceptions surrounding herbal medication. “There are herbal products in hospitals which are standardized, and these have been used for more than 40 years, and so it is much regrettable when we hear such blanket statements.”
He added: “If we make such statements, we will kill the initiative that we are having as local people to develop our own products. If COVID did not teach us a lesson, we will struggle. The lesson I learnt from COVID is that we should be developing our own medicine. Let’s support our local manufacturers.”
Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Christian Agyare, reaffirmed KNUST’s commitment to collaborating with industry to enhance education. He underscored the relevance of relationships between the government and stakeholders in advancing teaching and learning.
He also encouraged other stakeholders present, stating that the College is open-armed to receive their benevolence aimed at enhancing the learning experience.
T. Dr. Atuahene Boateng, CEO of Medimafo Herbal Clinic, expressed appreciation to the department’s management and thanked all herbal manufacturers present for their contributions to advancing health systems in Ghana.
He also shared his vision for herbal medicine, stating: “To be the leading global health centre for holistic herbal healing in Africa and beyond.”
T. Dr. Atuahene Boateng further advocated for more research into claims surrounding herbal medicine: “We must research into the fallacy that herbal medicine causes kidney and liver disease,” he stated. He added that such claims should be substantiated with evidence, emphasizing that “herbal medicine has been serving the nation for more than decades.”
Attendees toured the newly renovated office space after the formal ceremony, visibly impressed by the transformation.
