The Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDC) has raised concerns over the growing menace of quackery, describing it as one of the major threats to the country’s medical profession.
Data from the Council indicates that between 2024 and the third quarter of 2025, four individuals were arrested for practising medicine without a licence.
The suspects — Kate Baidoo of Osag Medical Centre (Nsakena), Ebenezer Koomson of E & E Medical Centre (Gomoa Afransi), Innocent Tagbovi of Mighty Clinic (Madina), and Ebenezer Sarpong of Goodcare Medical Centre (Swalaba Bukom) — were apprehended during undercover operations conducted between September 2024 and August 2025.
Several others are currently under investigation, with cases expected to be prosecuted in court.
The Council also uncovered incidents of forged academic certificates submitted by individuals seeking authorisation to practise as medical professionals in Ghana.
Speaking at a press briefing, Registrar of the Council, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, said the problem was widespread and cut across different regions and health-related fields. He assured the public that the Council is committed to tackling the menace.
To help restore confidence, Dr. Banyubala announced that the MDC is collaborating with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to roll out a practitioner name tag and stamp policy by 2026.
The system will require healthcare providers to display official identification, including their names, photographs, and professional designations.
“Detecting quackery is very difficult,” he explained. “That is why we are working with the NHIA to ensure that any professional in a healthcare setting is properly tagged. The aim is to reduce patient confusion, since not everyone in a hospital environment is a medical doctor.”
The MDC believes the initiative will not only curb quack practices but also protect patients’ safety and enhance trust in Ghana’s healthcare system.
