Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Photo Credit: Ghana News Online
Written by Abdul- Rahman Mohammed (National President and Board Chair of PFAG)
Originally Published on January 16, 2020
Summarized by Aya Wallaia
On 14th January 2020, the Ghanaian government through the Minister of Food and Agriculture (Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto) confirmed that Ghana will not integrate GMOs into its agricultural system.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto claimed that the rationale behind this decision as the following: “We have not maximized the use of our traditional techniques, such as cross-breeding, budding and grafting, for production, besides, the citizens have expressed their aversion to GM foods.” With these traditional techniques, the Minister projects that GMOs will not be needed in the next 100 years.
Local unions and associations that support the movement of no GMOs, such as The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) call on all institutions, individuals and multi-national corporations that profit from Monsanto to take this stance as well by supporting farmers, supporting the local seed industry, and investing in agroecology to combat climate change
The switch to GMOS benefits corporations while exploiting Ghanaian farm workers. Now that Ghana has made the decision to not integrate GMOs, the country can focus on the issues faced by Ghanaian farmers today, like the impacts of climate change, the high costs of inputs, and other areas.
Overall, the PFAG expresses gratitude for Ghana President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo for supporting their stance and standing with farmers.
