Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), Eric Amaning Okoree has called for enhanced cooperation and collaboration between the NBA and the various regulatory institutions in the biosafety space through intensifying exchanges in knowledge sharing on modern biotechnology.
He explained that the field of modern biotechnology required a concerted effort of all professionals tasked to ensure that the product of modern biosafety and biotechnology are safe for human consumption and the environment.
“With increase in human population and the improvement in technology, we need to ensure that food security is attained. This requires we innovate and improve using modern biotechnology. We, therefore, need to ensure that the various protocols on the regulation of products of modern biotechnology- genetically modified organisms are safe for Ghanaians.”
Interacting with officers of the Customs Laboratory of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in Accra as part of the NBAs public sensitization of its mandate, Mr. Okoree indicated that the NBA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with seven state regulatory institutions namely the Customs Laboratory Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The rest are Veterinary Services Department (VSD), Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Plant Protection & Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD) and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
The sensitization was meant to enhance their working knowledge of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and its regulation in Ghana.
Touching on the role of the Customs Laboratory of the GRA as a partner in the regulation of GMOs in Ghana, Mr. Okoree stated that with their role and mandate in cross border movement (clearance for passage of goods and cargoes, and a well resource laboratory), “the importation of GMOs will be subjected to severe scrutiny in order to ensure that only products approved by the NBA would be imported or exported.”
The CEO further indicated that with a concerted effort by all the regulatory agencies, only products that have passed the test of safety would be allowed into the country and urged all the agencies to work well by exhibiting professionalism in the regulatory value chain.
“We need to create a constructive synergy with all the regulatory provisions on GMOs to be able to handle the wider biosafety, biosecurity and bioethics,” he posited adding that GMOs could be become evasive and spread without control hence the need for a stringent regulatory regime.
Mr. Okoree used the opportunity to educate the officers on the NBA’s mandate, permit approval and decision-making process adding that the NBA provided regulation for confined field trials, introduction unto the market, placement, import and export and transit.
The Assistant Commissioner of the Customs Laboratory, Mrs. Phyllis Sekyi-Djan entreated the officers to ensure that the all goods for imports and exports were duly approved by the NBA before allowing into or out of the country. She further advised the NBA to sign unto the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) platform to ensure that the approval process is streamlined and conform to the regulatory standards.
