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The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has pledged its support for increased state investment in Ghana’s plant medicine industry following a working visit to the COA Research and Manufacturing Limited Company (COARMLC) in Cape Coast.
The 13-member delegation, led by Hon. Mark Kurt Nawaane, Member of Parliament for Nabdam, toured the COA factory to witness firsthand the facility’s operations, manufacturing processes, and research infrastructure. The committee was taken through various stages of production of the COA Mixture and other plant-based remedies that have gained prominence for their purported efficacy.
During a detailed presentation by COA management, researchers showcased findings from years of studies into the therapeutic potential of indigenous medicinal plants. The presentation highlighted reported benefits in managing and alleviating conditions such as herpes zoster (shingles), HIV, COVID-19, Ebola, and other viral infections.
Addressing the delegation, CEO and Founder Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan emphasised that while public testimonies about COA products’ healing properties are compelling, it is critical for the state to subject these products to comprehensive scientific evaluation. “Let us subject it to scientific analysis and clinical trial at the end of the day the results will tell us whether we have it or not and the COA product had about 180 organic compounds with only 9 anti-viral properties,” Prof. Duncan said.
Hon. Nawaane and the committee commended COARMLC’s strides in innovation and expressed confidence that scaling up production and research could transform Ghana’s healthcare sector and economy. The MPs pledged the committee’s support to advocate for state funding and policy frameworks that will enable COA to expand infrastructure, create employment opportunities, develop export markets, and contribute an estimated over $7 billion in annual revenue through initiatives such as COA’s injectable manufacturing project, COA72.
In a gesture of appreciation, COA Research and Manufacturing Limited donated 70 boxes of COA Mixture to the Parliament of Ghana—20 boxes designated for the Select Committee on Health and 50 boxes for the broader parliamentary body. Committee members expressed gratitude for the donation and lauded COA’s commitment to improving public health outcomes.
