Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has made it clear that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not a priority, or acceptable in Ghana. Instead, through the Plant Breeders Bill, the ministry is looking to gain assured protection for “people, corporate bodies and research institutions,” Graphic Online reported, which facilitated the creation of new plants and crops.

The ministry has no plans of promoting GMOs and intends to close the loophole which allows for outside institutions to benefit from plant breeds that originated in Ghana.

“There are a lot of plant and crop varieties that were developed by Ghanaians but today, other countries are using them in their agricultural economies and not a single penny is paid as a reward to this country simply because they were not protected,” Dr. Yakubu Alhassan, MOFA Deputy Minister told Graphic Online.

“So, we are saying that let’s have a law that can protect varieties developed by institutions and people so that they can benefit from the use of those varieties by third parties, Alhassan said.

Although GMOs would easily boost the production of crops to be sold in western countries, they would pose a competitive edge complicating naturally produced plants and crops, the report suggested.

The Plant Breeders Bill, which also does not seek to introduce GMOs to Ghana, is currently under parliament review.