HUMAN RIGHTS COURT DISMISSES FOOD SOVERIEGNTY SUIT AGAINST NBA OVER COMMERCIALISATION OF GM PRODUCTS IN GHANA

The Human Rights Court 1 has dismissed the suit filed by Food Sovereignty Ghana, Convention People’s Party, Vegetarian Association of Ghana and Goaso Kanyan Akuafo Kuo against the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and four (4) others over the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms products in the country. The judgement comes after nine (9) years of legal tussle. The court presided over by Her Ladyship, Justice Barbara Tetteh-Charway delivering her judgement described the FSG’s suit as a ‘red herring’ since the plaintiffs in their application could not adduce evidence to show how their reliefs had a direct bearing on the commercialization of cowpea in the country. The court directed the NBA to undertake continuous public sensitization through the media and other publications, liaise with the relevant regulatory authorities to finalize the guidelines for labelling of GM products before any commercialization in the country, publish all relevant data on the importation of GM cowpea on the Biosafety Clearing House and also to label all GM products on the market to enable the public to make informed choices. The NBA, working with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has already issued guidelines on the labelling of GMOs in Ghana which was developed with all stakeholders including Food Sovereignty Ghana. Currently, the FDA is in the process of sensitizing the relevant stakeholders first and then the general public on these guidelines.
The NBA wishes to assure Ghanaians that approvals granted for the environmental release and importation of GMOs into Ghana have undergone extensive scientific and socio-economic review in line with international best practices. These crops that have been approved by the NBA are safe for all Ghanaians. The National Biosafety Authority remains committed to ensuring the safety of modern biotechnology in Ghana as well as continuing to engage with stakeholders transparently as mandated by the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831). Click here to read the Press Release.