Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

Background: This study explores the opinion on legislative and regulatory effects on the practice of Naturopathy from the perspectives of Naturopathic Medical Students in Training. Materials and Methods: A qualitative research approach using a Case Study design was employed. An unstructured questionnaire was sent to 50 Naturopathic Medical Students in Ghana’s first Naturopathic Medical School. A question-by-question analysis was then carried out. Results: We found unanimous agreement among respondents in support of legislation to regulate Naturopathic Practitioners in Ghana. Conclusion: We found that regulation, legislation, or standardization affects every profession globally. Recommendations: We advocate for strict legislation and regulation to streamline Naturopathy in Ghana. Keywords: Naturopathy, Naturopathic Medicine, Law, Traditional Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Ghana

Naturopathy is the general practice of Natural remedies. Others have also opined that Naturopathy is the way of life. Additionally, any natural modality that is effective and has scientific support is considered Naturopathy in the modern dispensation. The naturopathic movement started in the 19th century by the hydrotherapy and nature cure proponents in Austria and Germany and professionalized in North America. Africa, Naturopathy is well appreciated in South Africa and is a highly regulated Profession. In Ghana, we found that the Naturopathy movement started in the 1960s. It has however gained momentum in the current dispensation with the development of Ghana’s first National Occupational Standards in Naturopathy at the Higher National Diploma and Bachelors level awaiting accreditation. Research and standardization have also intensified due to the work of Ghana’s first Naturopathic Medical School; Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT). We provide commentary on the Naturopathy journey in Ghana in this article. Keywords: Naturopathy, History, Ghana, Nyarkotey, Founders

Background: Despite the over 62 years of Naturopathy’s existence in the Ghanaian jurisdiction, no single tertiary program in Naturopathy or Complementary and Alternative Medicine is taught. The practice has not been streamlined and properly structured. Those who engage in the Naturopathic trade mostly receive their education through correspondence from unrecognized and unaccredited foreign schools that teach a limited aspect of naturopathy. Objective: Following the development and approval of two Naturopathic programs; The Higher National Diploma (HND) for training Naturopaths and Bachelor of Technology in Naturopathy and Holistic Medicine, a 5-year program for Naturopathic Physicians, this paper provides a critical evaluation of the curricula approved by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) in Ghana. Materials and Methods: This paper employs a sequential two-stage qualitative process. In phase one, the two curricula were submitted to the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF) Canada, for evaluation. Phase two involved a document analysis using the curriculum recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF), and the South African Naturopathic curriculum. An in-depth evaluation and comparison with the Ghanaian program were conducted, together with abstracted WNF responses which were then analyzed thematically. Results: After the necessary recommendations by WNF were adopted. The two Ghanaian curricula met the international standard. The recommendations also strengthened the mandatory general area of competence in Naturopathic training. The Ghanaian Bachelor’s in Naturopathy has total clock hours of 5,979, which surpasses the South African degree in Naturopathy(5,950) clock hours. Conclusion: The Ghanaian naturopathic mandatory and elective subjects in the curricula meet the international standards. Issues raised by World Naturopathic Federations (WNF) were all addressed to strengthen the program. Keywords: Naturopathy, Education, Nyarkotey, Ghana,Complementary and Alternative

About 80% of Ghanaians rely on Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines for their health needs. However, Complementary and Alternative Medicine was not factored into Act 575 in 2000. The government of Ghana has nonetheless taken some steps to provide recognition for CAM with ministerial directives. To date, no tertiary program exists in Ghana to train experts in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, unlike Herbal Medicine. In 2021, the Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine provided a roadmap in this area. The first National Occupational Standard was further developed at the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor in Naturopathy and Holistic Medicine approved by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) for training Naturopaths. This paper compares the Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy curricula in Ghana. Keywords: Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, KNUST, Nyarkotey, Ghana

The quest to improve the modern study of Naturopathy in Ghana started in 2016 with professional certifications introduced by the then Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine. The college received accreditation from the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) of the Ministry of Health. Between 2020 and 2021, the college found the need to take the study of African naturopathy to the tertiary level. The college started its national accreditation arrangement under the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) at the Higher National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology in Naturopathy and Holistic Medicine. The curriculum for Naturopathy was based on Ghana’s harmonized Competency Based Training (CBT). This paper presents a commentary on the progress made toward curriculum development and accreditation for Ghana’s first Naturopathy program at the tertiary level. Keywords: Naturopathy, African Naturopathy, HND, Bachelors, Nyarkotey, Accreditation

Medicine has evolved, and as such, the practice of naturopathy in the past cannot be likened to Naturopathy in this modern era. Due to this, there is a need for standardized structuring in modern Naturopathy, especially in the context of African Naturopathy. Modern Naturopathy is science-based. The Biomedical component of modern Naturopathy cannot be underestimated, as it plays an integral role in the recognition of Naturopathic practitioners and the integration pathway into the Ghanaian healthcare space and Africa’s entirety. Keywords: Modernity or original state, Higher National Diploma