On August 2, the Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (ITAM) held a significant handover ceremony as Prof. Eric Woode passed the baton of leadership to Prof. Kwame B.N. Banga. The event was graced by Prof. T.C. Fletcher, outgoing Dean of the School of Pharmacy, and several other senior members of the School.

Prof. Eric Woode took over the reins from the Founding Director, Prof. Marcel T. Bayor, as Acting Director on October1, 2021 until July 31, 2023.

Prof. Eric Woode stated that currently, ITAM boasts five assistant research fellows, all at various stages of their doctoral programmes, a well-coordinated administration and staff supported by an assistant registrar and a senior sdministrative assistant. The institute also hosts an intern specializing in medical and molecular biochemistry, who actively supports the research fellows with laboratory work. The assistant research fellows currently serve as coordinators for the Institute’s six departments.

The Institute is located at the South Campus, Dave. There is also a shared faculty office with the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SSEM). ITAM’s reach, however, extends beyond its walls, with faculty members contributing their expertise to other schools within UHAS, such as the School of Pharmacy (SOP), School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), and the School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences (SBBS).

Since its establishment in 2019, ITAM has experienced growth under the diligent leadership of past directors. The Institute has collaborations with the High Commission of India in Ghana, the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate (TAMD), the Ghana Federation of Traditional and Alternative Medicine Practitioners (GHAFTRAM), and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

ITAM also developed curricula for an MPhil and PhD in Herbal Medicine and Therapeutics, and an introductory course in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM); and organized a successful training workshop in July 2021 for TCAM practitioners. There are plans to establish a medicinal plant farm and a drug testing unit for the analysis of natural/herbal products for registration with the FDA.

Prof. Woode ended his tenure with key recommendations for the Institute, advocating for increased staffing, acquisition of a pick-up vehicle, fully equipped laboratories, and an animal house facility for breeding animals for product testing.

With the assumption of Prof. Kwame B.N. Banga as the new Director, ITAM looks forward to an era of increased growth, the actualization of set goals, and the continued promotion of traditional and alternative medicine in Ghana and beyond.