In Ghana, millions rely on herbal remedies, but many are produced without scientific testing or clear safety standards. Through Duanyame Health, diaspora entrepreneur Dr Bismark Appiah is changing that. 

In Ghana, herbal remedies are deeply embedded in everyday life. Around 70 per cent of the population relies on traditional medicine for primary healthcare, particularly in rural areas where other services are scarce. Yet much of this widely used market has long operated without scientific oversight. Unregulated herbal preparations have been linked to serious health risks, including kidney injuries and chronic illness. 

Dr Bismark Appiah has seen these consequences first-hand. Growing up with herbal cures himself, he later observed a worrying rise in health complications caused by unsafe concoctions. This led to the idea behind his company, Duanyame Health.  

Duanyame Health subjects indigenous plant formulations to laboratory testing, standardises dosages and carries out rigorous safety checks. The aim is not to replace traditional knowledge, but to validate it scientifically and reduce risks linked to contamination or misuse. 

This approach meets both a public health need and a clear market demand. Ghanaians and consumers across Africa spend billions of US dollars on herbal products each year, yet only a small share of locally sourced remedies meet international quality standards. Duanyame’s own market research found that almost 90 per cent of surveyed Ghanaian consumers would prefer herbal medicines produced according to such standards. 

A key turning point for Duanyame Health came through support from the Business Ideas for Development (BID) initiative. “GIZ’s BID financial and hands-on support closed the last mile for us. With the €7000 grant we re-registered the company, rebranded, built the website and opened our bank accounts. The coaching opened doors with labs, regulators and investors, so we could finish the market study, lock our plan and commit to our first manufacturing slot,” remarked Dr. Appiah. 

By mid 2025, Duanyame Health had secured its first major impact-focused investor committed to the venture’s long-term social mission. A market launch is planned for early 2026, with 100,000 units of the herbal product already prepared for manufacture. 

Duanyame’s impact goes beyond the medicine itself. The venture is building a sustainable supply chain with farmers and herbal collectors in Ghana’s Central and Eastern regions. At least 17 farmers already supply medicinal plants to the company and receive training in Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) to protect yields and biodiversity. 

Women and young people are deliberately prioritised as growers and processors, addressing structural inequalities in agriculture. Dr Appiah expects women to make up around 60-65 per cent of Duanyame’s workforce and supplier network. So far, around ten partner technicians have seen tangible gains in income and skills and job creation is continuing as the company scales. 

Internal projections anticipate revenues of around USD 4 million within two years of market entry. Duanyame aims to expand from a single-product venture into a platform that standardises and produces multiple formulations, from fertility teas to diabetes supplements. 

Further information on the offers available to the Ghanaian diaspora can be found below.