2023: The Debate on GMOs, the Science, the Perception, case of Ghana: why it’s time for scientist to be at the forefront of this great innovation of hope (PBR cowpea).

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NARR: In West Africa, particularly Ghana, few crops play a vital role in our food security, one of which is cowpea or what we locally call beans. The grain legume crop is a cheap source of protein for about 75% of households. Cowpea is well known for its potential to increase nutrition security, generate income for smallholder farmers and vendors along the value chain, and reduce poverty.

However, Maruca pest is a key challenge that renders cowpea production unattractive in Ghana and across Africa. The larvae infest the flower buds, flowers, and the pod causing up to 80% yield loss in heavily infested areas. Currently, farmers spray their fields between eight to 10 times within the eight week growing cycle of the crop in order to get a good harvest.

The reality is that the PBR cowpea, a genetically modified variety will help farmers increase yield and reduce pesticide application to two times per season, instead of the regular eight, has not done the magic in encouraging a hastened approval process.

In this report i intend to find out why the confusion and uncertainty in the scientific community about Genetically modified (GM) cowpea seeds.

Correspondent Nana Yaw Reuben has more….

NYR’S REPORT

Though only a few African countries are now growing genetically modified (GM) crops commercially, governments across the continent are increasingly recognizing the crucial role that biotechnology could play in improving food security on the continent.

Consequently, African governments are moving to establish an enabling policy framework to support the adoption of biotechnology, including GM crops and derived products.

In Ghana the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The National Biosafety Authority is an agency under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and Innovation.

Their role is to promote public awareness, participation and education concerning the activities of the Authority under the Act.

Although the CSIR and their partner OFAB Ghana do regular trainings and engagements with farmers, media and other partners but it seems the focus on scientific community and those in the science value chain must be more, regardless of their expertise. My concern is do they really understand the technology? If yes, how widespread is it and if no, isn’t it time for them to seek knowledge and deeper understanding about biotechnology?

I think educating themselves would be very helpful in this whole GM campaign because most of us believe in them and do not care what their expertise is, all we know is you are Dr. or Prof and so what ever you tell us is embraced without any cross checks and that has worsened the confusion around the technology because they themselves don’t understand the technology.

Dr. Naomi Asabre Frimpong, a scientist with the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) and Dr. Liz Von Kit also a scientist with the CSIR – Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) say more training for the scientific community would help eliminate negative perceptions by some scientist in Ghana and across Africa.

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Broadcast Journalist with Ghana Broad Casting Cooperation, Gloria Afful said the misinformation was aggravated by scientist who lacked knowledge about the technology. If other countries are growing GM cowpea and the likes, why can’t Ghana also do it?

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The Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Professor Paul Bosu indicated that CSIR will continue to work hard to bridge the gap between scientific expertise and public understanding.

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GMO is not a chemical, it is nothing scary but a technology that is used to develop food crops based on the best species” he added

Report filed by Nana Yaw Reuben