Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings pressed for clearer labelling of genetically modified organisms in Ghana, insisting consumers have a right to know if products contain GMOs. Speaking during a visit to the National Biosafety Authority in Accra on Friday, she said transparency was essential to building public trust.
“When we shroud things in secrecy, we create mistrust,” she said. She argued that non-GMO certification requirements should extend beyond exports to include products sold domestically.
The National Biosafety Authority approved 14 genetically modified crop events earlier this year, with the High Court upholding that decision in May 2024. GMOs involve organisms whose genetic material has been deliberately altered to introduce traits like pest resistance or herbicide tolerance. While these traits are most common in agriculture, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said biotechnology’s applications extended to pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Sustained public education was necessary, she said, to help Ghanaians understand biotechnology and make informed decisions about products derived from it. “The public needs adequate information to decide whether to use these products,” she said, adding that openness would help build confidence in regulatory institutions.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings urged the NBA to expand its communication strategies beyond newspapers to include social media and other digital platforms where more people access information. The Authority, she said, should address perceptions that it operates in secrecy and ensure the public is well informed about decisions on GMO products.
She also proposed that the NBA develop plans to designate specific areas for GMO cultivation. This, she explained, would facilitate monitoring and reduce the risk of genetically modified crops mixing with indigenous varieties.
Earlier the same day, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings visited the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. She called for more frequent inspections of facilities handling radioactive materials, saying the current inspection intervals of one to three years were insufficient given potential radiation risks.
The Minister also pressed the NRA to intensify public education so citizens could better understand its regulatory role and distinguish it from that of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. She urged stronger collaboration with tertiary institutions to build a specialist workforce for Ghana’s nuclear science and technology programmes.
“Ghana needs to retain the expertise required to support its long-term nuclear power ambitions,” she said, addressing nuclear science professionals. The NRA reported it had issued 312 permits covering design, transport, and importation of radioactive devices. It also said seven regulations had been submitted to Parliament and were awaiting approval, appealing for support to expedite their passage.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings’s visits to the NBA and NRA came amid ongoing debates over biotechnology and nuclear regulation in Ghana. Her calls for transparency, education, and tighter oversight reflect growing public concerns about safety and trust in regulatory bodies.
According to Joy Online.
