Agri National

NBA To Enhance Quality GMO in Ghana – Prof- Antwi Boasiako

The chairman of the National Biosafety Authority, Professor Antwi-Boasiako has revealed that the outfit will ensure that the controversy surrounding issues of Genetically Modified Organisms is made clear to Ghanaians.

This he indicated is important as considerations are underway for the importation of “quality GMO” into the country to improve food security in the country.

Professor Antwi-Boasiako who doubles as a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) also indicated that plans were underway by researchers in the country to produce the GMO.

This, he added therefore makes it imperative for the National Biosafety Authority to diffuse the negative perceptions regarding the GMO to the Ghanaian public as well as ensure that only ‘quality GMO’ are imported into the country.

He backed his assertions with the country’s laws, Act 831 (2011) which gives the Authority the mandate to monitor all foods that are brought into the country.

The lecturer, who said Ghanaians are already enjoying GMO, further allayed any fears surrounding the product, guaranteeing that the Authority is not slumbering but wide awake and keeping eagles eyes to ensure that “bad GMO are not allowed into the country.”

The professor lauded Rite FM for the great effort to promote agriculture in the country, adding that they will collaborate with the media to create awareness on the GMO and reach out to the farmers.

He also expressed confidence in the Ghana Atomic Energy commission, CSRI, FDA, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Environment, Immigration Services as well as competent lawyers to protect our boarders from any intrusion.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are food crops that have been engineered to increase yields, hardiness and resistance to herbicides. This genetic engineering creates plant, animal and natural bacterial food groups that do not occur in nature.

There is much controversy over the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms while scientists delve deeper to ascertain its health and environmental effects on human beings and other natural creations such as plants and animals.

Genetically Modified Organism foods have been on the market since 1994 and research on their long-term effects on human beings is ‘scarce’.

China has one –fifth of the world’s population but just seven percent of the world’s arable land and food security is a national obsession. Pesticides and enhanced fertilizers no longer improve crop yields as markedly as they once did and staple crops such as rice may not grow as reliable in the temperature extremes brought on by climate change.

As a result, the government has begun to invest heavily in research on genetically modified crops by calling on domestic scientists to boldly research and innovate (LAND) to dominate the high points GMO techniques.

The most recent five (5) year plan names biotechnology including enhanced agricultural.

Source: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org/Austinofori.addo@gmail.com

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