The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has closed down three body massage spas operated by Chinese nationals in the Ashanti Region. The facilities, located at Ahodwo and Daban in the Kumasi Metropolis, were shut down during an enforcement exercise targeting massage therapy, spa and related operations.
According to the Ashanti Regional Regulation Officer of the TMPC, Divine Azraku, the affected facilities had failed to obtain the Council's licence before commencing operations. The licence is a requirement for all massage and spa facilities in the region.
The enforcement exercise forms part of efforts by the Council to ensure that massage and related facilities comply with the required regulatory and licensing requirements. Almost all the facilities inspected during the exercise did not have the required licence, prompting the enforcement team to close them and place caution notices at their entrances.
Operators seeking to establish a spa or massage facility must first obtain a business operating permit, an association card or proof of proficiency, as well as documentation demonstrating experience in the profession. The TMPC is responsible for regulating and monitoring the activities of traditional medicine practitioners, including massage therapists and spa operators.
The shutdown of the three massage spas is part of a broader effort to ensure that all businesses in the Ashanti Region comply with relevant laws and regulations. The TMPC has been working with other regulatory agencies to identify and shut down businesses that are operating without the necessary licences and permits.
The Traditional Medicine Practice Council has urged all massage and spa operators in the region to obtain the required licences and documentation to avoid facing similar enforcement actions. The Council has also encouraged the public to report any instances of unlicensed or unregulated businesses operating in the region.
The shutdown of the three Chinese-operated massage spas has raised concerns about the regulation of foreign-owned businesses in the Ashanti Region. The TMPC has assured the public that it will continue to work with other regulatory agencies to ensure that all businesses, including those owned by foreigners, comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Key points
- The Traditional Medicine Practice Council shut down three Chinese-operated massage spas in the Ashanti Region for operating without required licences and documentation.
- The enforcement exercise was part of efforts to ensure that massage and related facilities comply with regulatory and licensing requirements.
- Operators must obtain a business operating permit, association card or proof of proficiency, and documentation demonstrating experience in the profession to establish a spa or massage facility.
