Academy of Arts & Sciences Wades into GMO Debate

The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences has reignited the debate over the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs, into Ghana.

The Academy last night organised a debate for those for and against GMOs. 

Speaking about what GMOs can do for mankind, a Research Scientist from the Crop Research Institute of CSIR, Dr Hans Adu - Dapaah, argued that GMOs are safe, insisting that the alleged risks
associated with them are mere perceptions. 

According to him, GMOs will go a long way to increase yields, improve varieties as well as guarantee food safety. 

For his part, an anti GMO advocate from Food Sovereignty Ghana, Yaw Opoku, cautioned against any rush to introduce
GMOs into Ghana. 

According to him, studies have shown that GMOs can have devastating health implications on consumers. He said the risks associated with GMOs are not mere perceptions as claimed by Dr Adu
Dapaah but a reality. 

He also questioned the reasoning that went into the formulation of the Plant Breeders Bill, which he claims has a
direct bearing on GMOs, describing it as the worst legislation ever to
be considered. 

However, Dr Adu Dapaah discounted his assertions. The audience, comprising scientists, researchers, lawyers, doctors, and farmers were sharply divided over the matter. 

During an open forum, there were heated exchanges between those for and against the introduction of GMO's.

GBC