Assessing the disparities and the contributions of herbal medicine activities to the rural and urban residents, Ghana

Production of herbal medicine is one of the livelihood activities in Ghana. The difference in production between rural and urban areas is so significant that it warrants urgent investigation. It is in respond to this gap that this research aims to assess the disparities in herbal medicine production between rural and urban areas in Ghana. Questionnaires, interview schedules, and focus group discussions were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data (mixed methods). Nsuatre and Tamale were purposively selected for this study. In this research, 24 input providers, 193 herbalists, and 73 herbal medicine traders were randomly selected from both rural and urban areas (Nsuatre and Tamale). The analysis of quantitative data was done using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and t-tests. The qualitative data was analyzed using transcription of recorded voices and quotations. The results show that herbal medicine activities have greatly contributed to the living conditions of the participants in diverse ways such as job creation, providing nutritious food for the participants, improved living standards, acquisition of property, and a reduction in poverty in Nsuatre and Tamale communities. A hypothesis testing showed that rural and urban herbal medicine production do not show a statistically significant difference. This research recommends that the government, non-governmental organizations and other institutions such as Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, Mampong and Department of Herbal Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology should provide the necessary equipment, training and financial support to the participants for the development of herbal medicine in the study areas.