Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, Executive President of COA Research and Manufacturing Limited and a renowned Ghanaian researcher, has appealed to the government to prioritise funding for further scientific research into COA 72 — a herbal formulation he believes holds transformative potential in treating HIV.
Speaking during a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health to the COA manufacturing facility on Monday, July 14, Prof. Duncan highlighted the significant strides made so far, noting that COA 72 has shown “remarkable immune-boosting properties” and promising results among individuals living with HIV.
“We’ve done a lot of research, but more is needed to reach definitive conclusions,” he explained. “Scientific research is expensive, and although we’ve come this far without government support, moving to full-scale clinical validation requires substantial funding.”
Prof. Duncan revealed that COA 72 has been tested in Ghana and South Africa, with what he described as “mind-blowing” results on human subjects — minimal side effects and notable immune system strengthening. “I have used it to treat colon cancer, and some HIV-positive individuals who used the product have had children who tested negative,” he added.
Beyond its potential health impact, Prof. Duncan outlined the economic benefits of government-backed scaling and production, claiming that COA 72 could generate up to $77 billion annually. “We can produce two million vials an hour,” he said. “With government support, the benefits would be immense — from job creation to national revenue.”
He further called for collaboration between researchers, policymakers and the private sector to build a resilient phytopharmaceutical industry in Ghana. “Protecting intellectual property rights and incentivising innovation in herbal medicine must also be a priority,” he urged.
COA 72, derived from Ghana’s rich biodiversity, is central to Prof. Duncan’s broader vision of positioning Ghana as a global hub for phytomedicine — creating economic opportunity and addressing public health challenges with locally driven solutions.
The visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, led by Chairman Hon. Mark Kurt Nawaane, MP for Nabdam, signalled growing national interest in the role of alternative medicine in mainstream healthcare. Hon. Nawaane praised Prof. Duncan’s innovation and pledged to advocate for his work in Parliament. “The government must support this research,” he said.
Other committee members, including Hon. Charles Agbeve (MP for Agotime-Ziope), Hon. Ebenezer Prince Arhin (MP for Mfantseman), and Hon. Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (MP for Central Tongu), echoed similar sentiments. Hon. Hottordze, who personally used the COA Mixture during the COVID-19 pandemic, described it as effective and urged integration into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make it widely accessible.
The MPs also proposed government partnership to expand the COA Research and Manufacturing hospital into a world-class treatment and research centre for herbal medicine.
Adding regulatory backing, Dr. Yusuf Yakubu, Acting Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, pledged to support Prof. Duncan in meeting scientific and certification standards necessary to bring COA products to global markets.
Prof. Duncan stressed that his mission extends beyond commercial success. “This is not just about one product,” he concluded. “It’s about saving lives, transforming healthcare, and creating an industry that can bring economic growth and national pride.”
The Parliamentary Select Committee’s visit marks an important step toward recognising Ghanaian-led innovations that could shape the future of healthcare both locally and globally.
By Peter Quao Adattor
