In January this year when the Parliament of Ghana resumed for business as usual, the Plant Breeders’ Bill (PBB) was tabled by the Select Committee on Agriculture for discussion but the Speaker of Parliament referred it back to the committee to take another look at it, taking into consideration the concerns of various groups.
This, indeed, was a welcome decision by the Speaker, since the impression was created that the MPs were going to bulldoze their way with the bill, ignoring the concerns of their constituents.
It was to understand the concerns of some of those constituents that the Graphic Communications Group Ltd and the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) brought selected journalists to a followup workshop during which those concerns were made available to them.
Early this year, some of those selected journalists were briefed on the implications of the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the Plant Breeders’ Bill (PBB).
The concerns, as presented to the journalists, formed the position of the Brong Ahafo House of Chiefs, faith-based organisations, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Food Sovereignty Ghana and civil society organisations regarding the PBB.
All the various groups expressed concerns about the possible negative implications of adopting GMOs and passing the PBB. They see the GMO and the PBB as a subtle way of re-colonising the Ghanaian economy. They, therefore, called on Parliament to seek consensus through public education and careful examination of the PBB before deciding on whether or not to pass the bill.
Nananom
The traditional leaders in Brong Ahafo, for instance, called on the government to be cautious of introducing the GMO and also suspend or abrogate the passage of the PBB till researches indicate the benefits or otherwise of it.
They said there was the need for Ghana to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the GMOs and also insist on the labelling of all genetically modified foods for easy identification.
They are of the opinion that the issue of GMO should not be looked at in isolation but it should be done, considering the numerous chemicals that cause damage to lands.
The traditional leaders wondered if permitting GMOs in Ghana would not conflict with the Economic Partnership Agreement, since Europe does not accept GMOs.
On the PBB, the chiefs called for critical examination so that we could comfortably take a stance on whether to go for it or not, adding, “If it is about food sustainability, GMO is not the answer.
The challenges confronting farmers, who need critical attention, include food transportation to the bigger markets, food access, preservation of land, new methods of improving agriculture, etc.”
“In conclusion, Nananom agreed that the Plant Breeders Bill should be suspended for the time being, for a wider consultation with major stakeholders to be made before a final decision is made to either go for it or not.
However, if Parliament refuses this and goes ahead with its passage, Nananom will have no option but to go on demonstration to press home their point,” the chiefs concluded in their six-point concerns.
Faith-based organisations
The faith-based organisations state, “We are alarmed by attempts by Parliament to pass the Bill without adequate consultation with key stakeholders including the faith-based organisations. Citizens of the diverse faiths constitute over 90 per cent of the Ghanaian population.
“We are interested in issues of agriculture and this is manifested through the several investments the FBOs have made in agricultural projects across the country.
Our practical experience in working in the agricultural sector indicates that Ghana’s dwindling food production cannot be attributed to our non-usage of GMO technologies but due to poor access roads to farms, lack of credit, unavailability of ready market, lack of storage facilities and agricultural processing.
“We, therefore, suggest to government and Parliament to redirect efforts and resources in these areas rather than falling for cheap and quick-fix solutions that have the potential of compromising the future of our constituents and the danger of Ghana losing her right to food sovereignty to multinational companies.”
They wondered what might have motivated the Government and Parliament to hasten the acceptance of the Plant Breeders’ Bill, which would lead to the legitimisation of GMOs.
Peasant farmers
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana in an 11-point resolution rejected the PBB in its current state it believes the PBB has a negative implication for farmers and the Ghanaian economy as a whole.
The association described the PBB’s demand for royalties from farmers as absurd when the farmers use seeds bred by scientists who work in public research institutions in Ghana and use public funds.
“The bill, as it is, [indicates that] the government has no legal authority over any seed production and marketing firm which deals in improved seed varieties in the country.
“Section 23 of the Plant Breeders Bill which states: ‘A plant breeder’s right shall be independent of any measure taken by the Republic to regulate within Ghana, the production, certification and marketing of material of a variety or the importation or exportation of the material’ supports the above argument,” the association stressed.
On health, the association pointed out that several animal studies indicated serious health risks associated with GM food, including infertility, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system and immune problems.
“Based on these concerns, we call on the Members of Parliament (MPs) to take time and extreme caution in the final consideration before passing this bill,” it concluded.
The Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG) said it believed that the PBB and the Bio-safety Act would not safeguard traditional farming practices and added that the implementation of the legislation would prevent farmers from freely saving, using and sharing seeds from season to season as they had always done.
It stressed that an attempt to de-link the Plant Breeders Bill from the current global discussions on GMOs were absurd as the PBB provided the legal framework for the introduction of improved varieties including GMOs.
The civil society organisations (CSOs), among others, proposed that the farmers' rights should be mentioned in the bill to balance the equation, since rights and obligations are mutually inclusive.
Journalists
At the end of the workshop, the journalists came to the consensus that there was the need for parliamentarians and the scientific community to intensify their education campaign to help the public appreciate why Ghana should adopt the GMOs and the PBB passed.
They commended the Speaker of Parliament for referring the bill back to the select committee for further deliberation and stressed that there was the need for consensus building at all levels so that in the event that the PBB was finally passed, the decision would have been based on broad support.
They felt that it was important for the general public to understand the implications of GMO and PBB to enable them to make an informed decision.
Writer’s Email:
