Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda & Results of the Public Consultation
West africa bio safety
1. WEST AFRICA BIOSAFETY
STATUS: GHANA DETAILS
Walter S. Alhassan
FARA SABIMA Project Consultant
UNN NSUKKA INT BIOTECH CENTER MEETING
7 FEBRUARY, 2013
2. WEST AFRICA BIOSAFETY LEGISLATION
STATUS
• Burkina Faso, Ghana, Senegal and Togo are
the only countries in the sub-region that have
biosafety legislation in place that can allow the
handling of GM crops up to commercial release.
• Nigeria has a cabinet approval for the handling
of GM crops up to the confined field trial level
• Nigeria law to allow commercial release passed
in 2011 by its Senate. Presidential assent still
pending. Only Burkina Faso is handling a GM
crop (Bt cotton) at the commercial level in West
Africa. This started in 2008.
3. GHANA BIOSAFETY LAW STATUS
• Enabling laws available: LI 1887 and ACT 831.
• LI 1887 (2007) allowed handling GM crops up to
CFT level as substantive legislation was being
developed. LI was based on an existing
legislation for research in the CSIR. Act 521 of
1996. NBC processes applications.
• Act 831 (2011). Comprehensive biosafety law.
Will cover handling GM products up to an
including commercial release. NBA will process
applications. The LI is being drafted with
assistance from ABNE and PBS.
4. GHANA BIOSAFETY LAW
some historical antecedents.
• 2003 Ghana ratified Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety. Public awareness, consultations held
on biosafety and biotechnology. Guidelines and
legislative framework developed.
• 2004 Draft Bill submitted to the MEST. Lots of
delay by government.
• 2006 MEST dissolved. Ministry of Education
Science and Sports created. LI 1887 created
2008 as interim. For CFTs.
• 2008 General Elections
• 2009 New Government. Bill process restarted.
• 2011 Biosafety Law passed. Presidential assent.
5. SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GHANA
LAW
• User friendly.
• No strict liability provisions. Contrast laws of
some French speaking countries- BF, Togo,
Mali.
• Transitional provisions allows operation of the LI
1887 for CFT pending a new LI for the new law
(Act 831) that covers all biosafety up to
commercial release.
6. TIPS ON GHANA BIOSAFETY LEGISLATION
COUNTRY EXPERIENCE
• Learn from earlier biosafety legislations to
improve own.
• Need a champion to relentlessly pursue
submissions to government.
• Must continuously engage key players: civil
society, media, farmer organisations, Ministers
and parliament. Must prepare parliament for
debate.
7. TIPS ON GHANA BIOSAFETY LEGISLATION
COUNTRY EXPERIENCE
• Must court key persons in government at all
levels for support not forgetting farmer
organisations and the media.
• Financial and technical support from
development partners crucial: UNEP-GEF, PBS,
ABNE and FARA/SABIMA.
8. BIOSAFETY RESEARCH
Needed to provide evidence for biosafety
guidelines for risk assessment and management:
• Gene flow
• Effect on non-target organisms
• Food safety- toxicity, allergenecity
9. WAY FORWARD
• Beginners to learn from experience of others in
biosafety management.
• Harmonisation of biosafety legislation in the sub-
region. Some challenges. Work with like-minded
countries is a possible way out for now.
• Biosafety research backing: gene flow to correct
isolation distances, food safety (toxicity and
allergenecity).
• STRONG STEWARDSHIP CULTURE to back
biosafety application.