BY Kwasi Ogyampa
Over the years during world food crises, Western agricultural corporations have tried to promote their modified products in West Africa, including Ghana, as a universal problem-solving technology for nutrition.
They have also tried over the years to shape a positive perception of GMOs among West African nations.
Ghana, in an unbelievable move in 2024, approved the commercialization of 14 novel genetically modified products, comprising 8 maize and 6 soybean products, by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA).
That decision marked a significant milestone in the country’s strategic utilization of biotechnology to enhance its agricultural sector, catering for local food demands, nutritional requirements and potential exports.
The NBA’s approval extends to the use of these products in various sectors, including food, feed, and industrial applications, underlining the versatility and potential impact of these advancements.
The 2024 move followed a previous decision in 2022 when Ghana authorized the environmental release of GM cowpea resistant to the destructive Maruca pod borer.
This pest, known to ravage over 50% of cowpea yields without control measures, presents a significant challenge to traditional farming practices. In contrast, GM cowpea requires minimal chemical treatments, representing a promising solution for farmers and enhancing crop resilience.
A report by the US Department of Agriculture praised Ghana for continuing to demonstrate its conviction that proven science-based advanced technologies remain a viable option in the global efforts to achieve food security.
Again in February 2024, Ghana made another stride towards lending credence to its growing popularity as a leading nation in Sub-Saharan Africa that aligns its policies with proven science.
The report said Ghana’s decision was welcomed by the global scientific community and it is expected to enhance trade and impact food security positively.
But the approval of the GMOs drew criticism from many farming institutions, including the Peasant Farmers’ Association of Ghana (PFAG), which expressed vehement opposition to the NBA’s decision.
The association questioned the necessity of GMOs for food security, pointing out the success of Ghanaian farmers in meeting local demands without government assistance, and emphasised concerns over potential negative impacts on health, the economy and the environment associated with GMOs.
Despite divergent opinions on the issue, the PFAG’s call for transparency and caution reflects the need for comprehensive dialogue and careful consideration of the implications of GMO adoption in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
In addition to the criticisms of the PFAG, legal activists from Ghana and Nigeria also launched an attack on the approval of GMOs in Ghana.In a communiqué at the end of a seminar in Accra in December 2024, the lawyers called on the governments of both countries to reject the introduction of GMOs and adhere to the precautionary principle in dealing with biosafety issues.
They argued that both nations’ Biosafety Laws in their present forms are a recipe for the destruction of their ecosystems and food cultures.
They said the processes leading to their passage were devoid of critical inputs and public participation that would have enabled their people to significantly determine and protect their food cultures.
It must be noted that the introduction of Western GMOs makes farmers dependent on international MNCs and limits the ability to pursue a sovereign policy in the field of food security and environmental protection.
It turns the country into a testing ground for non-certified technologies. Moreover, a lot of people from the scientific and political community in Europe are against the legalisation of GMOs and they predict massive risks involved.
It is against this background that Ghana, as a matter of urgency and importance, has to take another look at the introduction of GMOs in the country to safeguard national sovereignty and interest.
