The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) clarified that it has not approved the cultivation of seeds for 14 genetically modified (GM) products in Ghana.
Instead, the authority stated that it has registered these 14 GM products for importation into the country.
In a statement released by the CEO of the NBA, Eric Amaning Okoree, on April 10, 2024, it was emphasized that any entity seeking to import GM products into Ghana must obtain an import permit from the NBA.
He said the 14 approved GM products are also not for cultivation but “they are for the purposes of food, feed or processing.”
“They have been registered to allow for importation for those purposes by individuals or groups interested in them. Any entity interested will require an import permit from the NBA to be able to import them for use in the country. Therefore, the NBA wishes to state categorically that those events or products have not been imported into the country for food, feed or processing yet,” he explained.
The CEO of the NBA also clarified that the authority follows procedures outlined in the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831), as well as international best practices when evaluating applications related to GM products.
That, he noted, the “Authority therefore wishes to assure Ghanaians of the safety of GM product(s) that have received the NBA’s approval; notably the Bt Cowpea submitted by SARI and the fourteen (14) events submitted by Bayer West-Central Africa S.A and Syngenta South Africa which are intended for food, feed or for processing.”
Mr. Okoree clarified that the 14 approved products, comprising eight maize and six soybean events, are not meant for cultivation.
“They are, rather, grains for direct use as food, feed or for processing as stated above. This approval was granted under Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and Regulation 15 of the Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (LI 2383) following the evaluation of data and information supplied by the applicant and a thorough risk assessment by the NBA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),” he indicated.
He explained that having received the applications for registration, the Authority evaluated the events in line with available data provided by the applicants in line with the authority’s mandate and regulatory processes.
Mr Okoree expressed the concern that the call to reject any GM seeds that will be supplied is “unfortunate”, adding “The NBA recognises the need for Ghanaians to adapt to the emerging plant breeding technologies in the agricultural space for sustained crop improvement and food security.”
In addition, he said, “We wish to reiterate the fact that the improved yield and sustained food security will rather inure to the benefits of farmers rather than impoverish them as being speculated by a section of the media. Again, there is a robust biosafety system in place to ensure the safety of GMOs officially released in the country.”
