Recently, Genetic Modify Foods (GMOs) are believed to have been introduced in Ghana’s food system creating anxiety among consumers. Ghana is believed to possess arable land for cultivation, so the question is why the introduction of GMOs?
An Organic Food Activist, Food Sovereignty Ghana, for the past years has resisted the introduction of GMOs into Ghana’s food ecology. As part of its mandate, the organization put forth a case at the Accra Human Rights Court to stop the justification of cowpea and other cereals GMOs in the country in 2017.
Upon preparation for the hearing, 20th October 2020 has been set for adjudication. According to the communication officer of Food Sovereignty Ghana, Mr. Edwin Kwaku Baffour, Ghana’s agriculture sector has four critical issues to look at rather than the introduction of GMOs.
He mentioned that transportation, lack of financial support to farmers, lack of irrigation, and post-harvest losses are the four major issues in the sector that contribute to food insecurity in the country.
“Introduction of GMOs would worsen the situation. The chemicals that are used for GMOs are the potency of killing the micro-organisms in the soil, and spraying with glyphosate would cause harm to the farmers and biodiversity”, he said.
To him, the policymakers should consider long-term food production in the sense of maintaining the micro-organisms in the soil rather than introducing GMOs to kill the micro-organisms in the soil with its chemicals for making the soil ineffective for future food production.
He urged all the stakeholders and private individuals to rally behind Food Sovereignty Ghana to fight for the welfare of the farmers and the general public.
