Ghana hasn’t Received Madagascar Covid-19 “Cure” yet – Minister Clarifies

Ghana is yet to receive the famous Madagascar herbal tonic purported to be used in treating Covid-19 patients, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said.

The minister asserted that all reports claiming the country has been supplied samples of the herbal concoction are false.

"What we have said is that, Madagascar has reached out to us, with their supposed or their suggested cure and that we would test it through the FDA and Centre for plant medicine before making a decision," the Minister said at a press briefing on Thursday (May 21, 2020) in Accra.

"The brief as I have it is that we have not received this supposed cure from Madagascar". He added.

The Information Ministry in a tweet on May 19  said Ghana had reached out to Madagascar for the cure but Mr Oppong Nkrumah now insists that Ghana did not request for the drug.

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He said: "...I just want to be clear, the reports that Ghana has requested for or that we have received and we are testing a cure from Madagascar is incorrect, what we have said is that they have reached out to us as they have done to many other countries... What we will do is that we will test it...".

The principal ingredient in the Madagascar Covid-19 potion is from a leafy plant called sweet wormwood.

So far, countries such as Congo, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau have reportedly received packs of the product. 

The World Health Organization has however said there is no proof of any cure and has advised people against self-medicating.