Regulator closes three Chinese-run massage spas in Kumasi over missing licences

Ghana’s Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has ordered the closure of three massage parlours in the Ashanti Region after determining they were operating without the licences and paperwork required by law.

The closures affect facilities run by Chinese nationals in the Kumasi Metropolis, the council said. Multiple Ghanaian news outlets reported the action on Oct. 2–3 after the TMPC carried out an enforcement exercise focused on massage therapy centres.

According to reporting by Accra-based Citi News and relayed by Adom Online, the three establishments were located in the Ahodwo and Daban areas of Kumasi. Graphic Online and MyJoyOnline also reported the shutdowns, noting that the proprietors did not have the necessary registration or documentation to continue practising.

Enforcement sweep

The TMPC described the operation as an enforcement visit targeting massage facilities. Inspectors visited several centres and identified multiple places operating outside the council’s regulatory framework. The three Chinese-run parlours were among those closed for failing to present valid licences.

The council’s action is part of its oversight role in regulating traditional and complementary health practices across the country. News reports say the TMPC is responsible for ensuring practitioners and centres meet registration and documentation requirements before they may offer services.

What happened next

News outlets reported that the facilities were shut down during the enforcement exercise, but none of the sources provided further details about penalties, appeals processes or whether any personnel were detained. The reports also did not include statements from the proprietors or from representatives of the Chinese community in Kumasi.

Why it matters

Regulatory compliance determines which practitioners and centres may lawfully provide massage and related services in Ghana. The TMPC’s action underscores that operators must hold appropriate permits and documentation to continue trading. Local consumers seeking therapy services may now face a reduced number of available centres in the affected neighbourhoods until the facilities meet regulatory requirements or reopen under proper registration.

Reporting of the closures was consistent across the outlets, though specific location details — Ahodwo and Daban — were published by Adom Online citing Citi News. Graphic Online and MyJoyOnline likewise reported that the closed businesses were run by Chinese nationals and lacked necessary licences.