By Mohamed Kamara
Freetown, Sierra Leone — Dr. Jacob Sawutu, an esteemed herbal specialist and Associate Professor of Botany at Abidjan University, has publicly criticized the Pharmaceutical Board of Sierra Leone for its recent prohibition on the importation and sale of Coco Samba, a popular herbal medicine from Nigeria. Dr. Sawutu argues that the ban violates ECOWAS inter-state trade laws and undermines regional trade practices.
Dr. Sawutu asserts that Coco Samba, which is sold in eight West African countries, is in high demand for its reputed healing properties. He contends that the herbal medicine has been rigorously tested and certified by a scientific committee, confirming its safety and efficacy for human consumption. According to Dr. Sawutu, Nigeria’s advanced scientific and regulatory framework for herbal products surpasses that of Sierra Leone, highlighting a disparity in the validation of medicinal herbs.
The herbal specialist has criticized the Pharmaceutical Board for banning the product without providing public justification. He describes the lack of transparency as unethical and suggests it may be driven by underlying conflicts within the pharmaceutical market. Dr. Sawutu also points to a recent investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into a senior pharmaceutical official in Sierra Leone, alleging that such practices could be related to attempts to stifle competition and favor alternative products.
Dr. Sawutu, who has conducted several research visits to Sierra Leone, praised the country’s rich herbal flora but noted that public interest in herbal medicine is relatively low compared to Nigeria. He highlighted that in Nigeria, traditional herbal practitioners work alongside government hospitals and are often consulted for cases referred by medical doctors. He emphasized that herbal medicine has been a cornerstone of healing practices long before the advent of modern pharmaceuticals.
The professor has called on the Pharmaceutical Board to publicly disclose the reasons for the ban and the specific contents of Coco Samba that prompted the decision. He also criticized the practice of allowing unregulated herbal medicines to be sold informally on the streets while banning officially certified products.
Dr. Sawutu urged a reevaluation of the board’s decision and advocated for a more transparent and supportive approach to integrating traditional herbal medicine into the healthcare system. He warned against anti-African biases and neo-colonialist practices that undermine local herbal industries and benefit foreign pharmaceutical companies.
