Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/26/2006

**GAIN Report Number:** GH6003

GH6003

**Ghana**

**Biotechnology**

**Agricultural Biotechnology**

**2006**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Ali A. Abdi, Agricultural Attache

U.S. Embassy, Accra

**Prepared by:**

Elmasoeur Z. Ashitey, Agricultural Specialist

**Report Highlights:**

Updated, July 12, 2006

Sections updated are I, III and V

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

Lagos \[NI1\]

\[GH\]

Table of Contents

[Section I Executive Summary 3](#section-i-executive-summary)

[Section II Biotechnology Trade and Production
4](#section-ii-biotechnology-trade-and-production)

[Section III Biotechnology Policy 4](#section-iii-biotechnology-policy)

[Labeling 6](#labeling)

[Biosafety Protocol 6](#biosafety-protocol)

[Section IV Marketing Issues 6](#section-iv-marketing-issues)

[Section V Capacity Building and Outreach
7](#section-v-capacity-building-and-outreach)

[POST CONTACT AND FURTHER INFORMATION
8](#post-contact-and-further-information)

# Section I Executive Summary

The major U.S. food exports to Ghana are rice, poultry, and wheat. Ghana
is the most important commercial market for US rice in West Africa with
a record sale of approximately \$49 million in CY 2005, maintaining a
third of the market share for several years. The US is the leading
supplier of poultry products to Ghana contributing to half the market
share. In CY 2005, US poultry sale to Ghana was valued at \$9 million.
US wheat exports to Ghana in CY 2005 dropped from \$22 million to \$11
million due to freight and wheat cost. US exports of HVP include fruit
and vegetable juice, wine and beer reaching \$4.7 million in CY 2005.
Ghana receives U.S. food aid including commodities such as wheat,
soybean products and edible oil. The food aid is channeled through
Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) and is either monetized for
agricultural development work or used for supplemental feeding programs.

At present, Ghana has no specific law governing agricultural
biotechnology. The United Nations Environment Program and the Global
Environment Facility (UNEP/GEF) provided financial and technical support
towards the drafting of the Biosafety Framework for Ghana. The draft
National Biosafety Framework for Ghana was completed in July 2004. The
cabinet is currently reviewing a draft Biosafety Bill that establishes
the National Biosafety Authority. The National Biosafety Authority will
be the administrative body that is responsible for all issues related to
Biotechnology in Ghana. The process has been slow and it is not clear as
to when the draft Bill will be passed.

The draft Biosafety Bill stipulates that, all biotechnology products
will require a permit. The regulations will govern procedures for
contained work and field trials on biotechnology products; release into
the environment, importation, exportation and transit of agricultural
biotechnology products. Under the draft law, the current regulatory
agencies will be responsible for monitoring and enforcement of
biotechnology products.

Ghana ratified the Convention on Biosafety Diversity on August 29, 1994
and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on May 30, 2003.

Officials at The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research
Institute (BINARI) indicated that once the bill is passed, biotech
cotton would likely be one of the first products to be approved. This is
due to the possibility of cross border transfer of biotechnology cotton
seed from Burkina Faso which is currently testing biotechnology cotton.
No contained work or field-testing of biotechnology cotton activity has
been initiated yet in Ghana according to officials at BINARI.

According to GOG officials in the Ministries of MOFA, Trade and
Environment, the government realizes and appreciates the benefits of
modern biotechnology and the political will exists, however, a
"precautionary approach" to safeguard against "undesirable consequences
on human health" and the environment has been undertaken.

Ghana is hosting the Inter Ministerial Conference on Biotechnology on
September 26-29, 2006 to be organized by the Ministry of Food and
agriculture. GOG sources are hopeful that this conference could
encourage the GOG to pass the Ghana Biosafety Bill.

# Section II Biotechnology Trade and Production

Ghana does not currently produce any biotechnology crops commercially.
Capacity and knowledge exist for the development and production of
modern agricultural biotechnology crops according to the National
Coordinator of the National Biosafety Project (NBC). The coordinator and
scientists at the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research
Institute (BNARI) stated that biotechnology activity in Ghana is at the
diagnostic level. Scientists are assessing genetic diversity in both
food crops and industrial crops as in pests, diseases, yields and
maturity periods as a prelude to modern biotechnology development. Some
contained experiments are being carried out, for example, virus disease
resistance in cassava, pest and disease resistance in cowpea and
improvement of lysine strain in corn. Also Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire are
jointly performing contained work on the Cape St Paul Virus Wilt in
coconut along the border of the two countries.

According to the National Coordinator of the UNEP-GEF biosafety project,
cotton would likely be one of the first products to be approved. If
Burkina Faso approves varieties for use (we understand that Burkina Faso
is currently testing biotech cotton) it is likely that some seed will
cross the border. According to the head of the Biotechnology department
at BINARI neither contained nor field-testing of biotechnology cotton
has been initiated yet because the Biosafety law has not been passed.

U.S. food aid programs exist in Ghana. For the most part, the proceeds
from the sale of wheat are used for agricultural development programs;
for example, agro-forestry, on-farm production and storage, portable
water supply and sanitation, micro enterprise development support,
micro-credit programs. Direct feeding programs use soybean products,
wheat and edible oil.

# Section III Biotechnology Policy 

# 

[i. Responsible Institutions for Implementing the Biosafety
Bill]{.underline}

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA)

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The Regulatory Agencies

Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC)

The [NBA]{.underline} is the designated national authority on all issues
related to modern agricultural biotechnology in Ghana. All applicants
except for contained use and field trials will go through this
authority. The governing body of the Authority is a Board whose chairman
and members are appointed by the President for three years.

The [TAC]{.underline} will consist of not more than eleven individuals
from the regulatory agencies and from the private sector - individuals
knowledgeable in science and socio-economic matters related to
biotechnology. The TAC is the national advisory committee on matters
concerning or related to biotechnology and carry out risk assessments of
applications at the request of the Board. The Minister of Food and
Agriculture appoints the members based on recommendations by the Board
for a period not exceeding five years.

The Institutional Biosafety Committee reviews applications for contained
use and field trials.

The [regulatory agencies]{.underline} are responsible for monitoring and
enforcement. They will also be represented on the TAC. The agencies
include:

The Food and Drugs Board-- Food Safety and Related Matters

Plant Protection and Regulatory Services/MOFA -- Plant Health and
Related Matters

Veterinary Services Department/MOFA -- Animal Health and Related Matters

Environmental Protection Agency -- Environmental Releases and Related
Matters

Customs, Excise and Preventive Services -- Border handling of
biotechnology products in collaboration with agencies listed above.

[ii Role and membership of the Biosafety Committee]{.underline}

The national focal point on Biosafety in Ghana is still yet to be
decided because the Ministry of Science and Environment does not exist
anymore. (The Science section is now in Ministry of Education whilst the
Environment department has been moved to the Ministry of Local
Government). Some GOG sources have indicated that the Ministry of Food
and Agriculture (MOFA) could be a possible choice. The named Ministry
would be responsible for the liaison with the Secretariat of the
Convention on Biological Diversity for the administrative functions
required under the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety. The NBA will ensure
adherence to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety through implementation
of the national biosafety guidelines and other regulations.

The Ghana Biosafety Regulatory system is a coordinated framework and the
Biosafety Bill establishes the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), which
will be interdisciplinary in nature, to process applications relating to
biotechnology substances under the Act. Additionally the bill makes
provision for a governing Council, the Board, tasked with
decision-making with a Technical Advisory Committee that will provide
technical advice to the Board of the NBA. The establishment of the
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is also provided under the Bill.
The bill also provides for issuance of further guidelines to facilitate
better performance of the National Biosafety Authority.

The NBA will have the powers as stated under section 39 of the Biosafety
Bill to draft and adopt regulations or guidelines to ensure safety of
humans and the environment; stop a project through the relevant IBC
after establishing that further continuation of the project is unsafe to
the personnel, community and environment; and approve deregulation of
all regulated materials for free movement and commercial release on the
recommendation of relevant IBCs. The bill states that a person or
organization intending to introduce a biotech product into the
environment or import or place a biotech product on the market must
first obtain the written approval of the NBA.

Composition of the governing body of the National Biosafety Authority:

1.  An expert in biotechnology and related biological sciences including
    biosafety, as Chairman

2.  The Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee

3.  The Chief Director, or the representative of the lead Ministry on
    Biotech issues possibly the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

4.  One representative, Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI)

5.  One legal practitioner of not less than ten years standing

6.  One representative of non governmental organizations (NGO)

7.  Two other persons to be nominated by the president, one of whom
    should be a woman

8.  The Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Authority

[iii. Assessment of Political Factors]{.underline}

The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute (BNARI) of
the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) coordinated the project to
draft a Biosafety Framework for Ghana between November 2002 and July
2004. The UNEP/GEF provided financial and technical support for the
project. The framework is unique to Ghana but it is modeled after the
UNEP/GEF blueprint which includes -- a government policy on biosafety; a
regulatory regime; a system to handle requests for authorizations
(including risk assessment, decision-making) and administrative
functions; systems for 'follow up' (such as enforcement and monitoring
for environmental effects) and systems for public awareness and
participation. The text of the Framework and draft Biosafety Bill can be
located at the UNEP/GEF website.

The Biosafety Framework states that there is no specific policy on
biosafety in Ghana rather that the position is guided by other
principles stated in the [National Science and Technology
Policy]{.underline} (2000), the [Constitution]{.underline} (Art 36, 41)
and the [Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy]{.underline} (GPRS). The
proposed policy appears favorable to the use and acceptance of
biotechnology. However, at the same time the GOG ratified the [Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety]{.underline} in May 2003. Therefore, the
"precautionary approach and the environmentally sound management of
biotechnology" are also factors that were strongly considered in
drafting the Framework and Biosafety Act (in draft). For example, the
Act begins with stating that the first objective is "to ensure, in
accordance with the precautionary principle, an adequate level of
protection in the field of safe transfer, handling and use of
genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) that may have an adverse effect on
the environment."

## Labeling

Ghana requires labeling for packaged foods and feeds. The Foods and
Drugs Board (FDB) General Labeling Rules, 1992, (L. I. 1514) stipulates
that food labeling be informative and accurate. Labeling of packaged and
prepackaged products is for purposes of health, food safety and need to
know. The minimum labeling requirements are that labeling should be
clear, concise and in English; should have product name, net
mass/weight, batch number and expiry date; list of ingredients and food
additives must be stated. It is mandatory to label any prepackaged food
item that has nutritional composition. Mandatory labeling of biotech
products is not in the current draft bill.

## Biosafety Protocol

# 

Ghana ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on August 1994 and
the Convention's Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety on May 30, 2003. As
stated in the National Biosafety Framework for Ghana, the Protocol is in
consonance with the Ghana Constitutional obligations, Ghana
environmental law and policy and the fulfillment of Ghana's treaty
obligations. We are not aware of any significant impact on trade.

# Section IV Marketing Issues

In Ghana, the majority of people are not aware of modern agricultural
biotechnology products and the issues involved. Post discussions with
representatives of some local Farmer Organizations (NGOs) in Ghana
revealed that they have been involved in the process for the development
of the Biosafety Framework for Ghana. Their major concerns, regarding
public awareness, participation and decision-making have been included
in the biosafety guideline and should be addressed during the
implementation process. At the recently held ECOWAS Ministerial
Conference on Biotechnology in Mali in June 21-24, 2005, two
agricultural organizations, the West African Producers and Farm Network
(ROPPA) and West African Network of Chambers of Agriculture (WANCA),
expressed reservations about the introduction of biotechnology into the
agricultural policy of West African States. (Ghanaian Times, June 28,
2005, a local newspaper). These two organizations are calling for a
five-year moratorium on biotechnology in the Africa sub-region to allow
producers and farmer organizations to be well informed and participate
fully

in the decision-making process of the introduction of biotechnology in
the region. We are not aware of any activist activity in Ghana
responding to this call by the two organizations.

Information and discussions on modern biotechnology have been undertaken
among GOG officials, scientists and researchers. We are not aware of any
specific study assessing Ghanaians' acceptance of biotechnology
products. However, we would expect that the Ghanaian producer, importer,
retailer and consumer would accept biotechnology inputs if it increased
production and income. Currently Ghana imports processed products from
Europe and the US that may contain biotechnology ingredients. If
labeling is enforced, it may affect U.S. exports to Ghana.

Ghana currently exports non-traditional food products especially
pineapples, bananas and chili pepper to Europe.

# Section V Capacity Building and Outreach

Ghana is clearly moving forward on biosafety. However, Ghana could
benefit from capacity building outreach programs that would support
science based regulatory efforts and provide accurate information to the
broader public on the positive benefits of biotechnology.

USDA has funded biotechnology training over the last few years via the
Borlaug and Cochran programs.

USAID has a global Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) with West African
components. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is
the lead institution that is implementing the project. US based
biotechnology research institutions are participating in the program.
The purpose of the PBS is to promote the judicious use of modern
agricultural biotechnology in Ghana to increase agricultural
productivity with linkages to regional and global markets. The overall
objectives of the PBS program include:

1\) Establish an enabling environment for the testing and use of
biotechnology products; 2) Strengthen skills and increase capacity for
near-term conduct of field trials and food safety assessments; 3) and
develop and implement a strategic plan for communication and outreach
that engages diverse stakeholders and the general public.

PBS is working primarily with the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural
Research (BNARI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC). Other
partner institutions and key stakeholders, and people to whom the
message would be targeted include the Ministries of Education and
Science, Local Government and Environment, Agriculture, Trade and
Health, Universities, research and other public and private sector
groups.

USAID funded a sensitization workshop on biotechnology/Biosafety Bill in
February 2006 for parliamentarians in order to facilitate sensible and
dispassionate debate as the bill is moved forward. The Biosafety bill
has still not been passed as expected due to changes in Ministerial
positions causing undue delays.

**Section VI. Reference Material**

1.  National Biosafety Framework Document \[ISBN: 9988-8275-4-7\]

2.  National Biosafety Guidelines \[Part I-Introduction to biosafety
    Guidelines\] \[ISBN: 9988-8275-0-4\]

3.  National Biosafety Guidelines \[Part II-Biosafety Guidelines for
    laboratory and field work\] \[ISBN: 9988-8274-3-1\]

4.  National Biosafety Guidelines \[Part III-Biosafety Guidelines for
    movement of regulated materials and commercial releases\]\[ISBN:
    9988-8274-8-2\]

5.  Risk Assessment Guidelines \[ISBN: 9988-8275-1-2\]

6.  Public Participation Guidelines \[ISBN: 9988-8275-2-0\]

7.  Administrative Guidelines \[ISBN: 9988-8275-3-9\]

8.  <http://www.unep.ch/biosafety/development/countryreports/GHNFrep.pdf>

9.  [http://www.biodiv.org](http://www.biodiv.org/)

> **[Note:]{.underline}** The first two documents and highlights of the
> others can be found in the UNEP website given in 8 above. In addition
> all the documents can be assessed on the website indicated in 9 above.

# POST CONTACT AND FURTHER INFORMATION

1.  Ali A. Abdi

> Agricultural Affairs Office

American Consulate

2, Walter Carrington Crescent

Victoria Island, Lagos-Nigeria

Telephone: (234) 1 261-3926, 775-0830

Fax: (234) 1 262-9835

E-mail: <aglagos@usda.gov>

## 

2.  Elmasoeur Z. Ashitey (Mrs)

> American Embassy

Agricultural Affairs (USDA/FAS)

Ridge Roundabout (African Liberation Circle) PO Box GP 2288 Accra, Ghana

Tel: 233-21-231218

Fax: 233-21-679267

Cell: 233-244-331507

E-mail: <AshiteyEZ@state.gov>

Website: [http://www.fas.usda.gov](http://www.fas.usda.gov/)

3.  Prof George Y.P. Klu

> Director

Biochemical and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute (BNARI)

Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon, Ghana.

Tel: 233-21-400310/402286/401323

Fax: 233-21-400807

Email: <weks@idngh.com>

4\. Alex Owusu Biney

> National Project Coordinator

Biochemical and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute (BNARI), Accra,
Ghana

Cell: 233-244-250050

Fax: 233-21-400807

Email: <bineya@idngh.com>: <bineya@yahoo.com>