HEPA Plus Founder’s Medicinal plant farm draws international recognition
Source: tntnewspapergh.com
Founder of HEPA Plus, Dr. Ebenezer Agyemang, has received high praise from a visiting Malawian delegation for spearheading what they describe as a “revolutionary contribution” to Ghana’s herbal medicine sector through the establishment of a 20-acre organic medicinal plant farm.
Dr. Ebenezer Agyemang(1st from left) in a group photograph with the delegation
The delegation, from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in Malawi, said Dr. Agyemang’s decision to cultivate his own medicinal plants—free from pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and environmental contaminants—sets a new benchmark for herbal medicine production across Africa.
Dr. John Mponda, leader of the delegation who is a pharmacist and a lecturer said the team was impressed by the level of discipline, investment, and scientific rigor applied on the farm, which supplies raw materials for HEPA Plus, Plasmox, and Pavi.
“We are witnessing a true model of how herbal medicine should be developed—from clean cultivation to quality manufacturing,” Dr. Mponda said. “This is a shining example for Africa. Dr. Agyemang has shown that quality begins at the farm.”
The Malawian delegation, in Ghana to study herbal medicine training and regulation, also toured the production facilities of Ebenage Herbal Productions and Consult (Hepa Plus, Pavi and plasmox) where they observed adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Dr. Agyemang explained that his shift toward controlled cultivation began in 2020, after repeated challenges with contaminated herbs sourced from areas affected by illegal mining and agrochemical use. He noted that the health concerns often associated with herbal products stem not from the plants themselves but from toxins absorbed from polluted environments.
“Medicinal plants must be grown like medicine, not like ordinary crops,” he emphasized. “We rely on manual weeding, organic soil enrichment, and strict monitoring to ensure purity. This is how we protect consumers.”
Head of the Herbal Medicine Department at KNUST, Dr. Kofi Turkson, who accompanied the visitors, commended the HEPA Plus founder for taking a bold step that many producers have not been able to sustain due to cost and labour demands.
“At a time when galamsey is destroying raw materials and making plant harvesting dangerous, this farm is a lifeline for the industry,” Dr. Turkson said. “It guarantees clean raw materials, supports research, and creates training opportunities for students.”
The Malawian team described Dr. Agyemang’s initiative as a vital blueprint for Africa’s herbal future, adding that such investments are necessary to elevate herbal medicine to international health standards.
They expressed commitment to deepen collaboration with Ghanaian institutions, including KNUST and Ebenage Herbal Production and consult (producers of HEPA Plus, Plasmox and Pavi), as Malawi works toward strengthening its own traditional medicine framework.
