CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background
Genetically Modified Foods (GM Foods) are defined as foods whose genetic materials have been altered through the artificial introduction of foreign substances (Dhan-Prakash, Verma, Bhatia and Tiwary, 2011). In the production of GM Foods, foreign genes responsible for specific traits of socio-economic importance are isolated in the laboratory and transferred into the crop which is to be improved. When the newly improved crops produce offspring, they will carry the foreign trait that has been introduced. This is contrary to the traditional means scientists have used for several years to enhance the productivity of crops. The old process of introducing foreign genes was done naturally on the field by allowing crops within particular species to mate. But this new technology gives scientists the ability to introduce genes from different species into crops. GM Food technology is used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms (Gyau, Voss, Spiller, and Enneking, 2009). For example, genes can be introduced from bacteria into maize to create genetically modified maize.
Despite opposition by some Civil Society Groups, the government of Ghana has rolled out an elaborate process that will culminate in the introduction of Genetically Modified foods (GM foods) into the country’s food chain soon. In 2011, Parliament passed the Biosafety Act, 2011 to permit the testing, production and commercialisation of GM crops in the country. The Biosafety Act (2011), Act 831 establishes the National Biosafety Authority. The authority has the responsibility to ensure adequate protection and safety when it comes to the application of
genetic modification to foods, so human health and the environment are not adversely affected (Amofah, 2014).
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the government agency championing the introduction of GM crops into the country. CSIR is currently conducting confined field trials of GM cotton, rice and cowpea as part of regulatory procedures before they are allowed onto the market (www.ofabafrica.org, 2014). The council currently runs an educational campaign known as the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) to educate farmers across the country on GM foods. The production of GM foods is expected to help reduce the destruction of farms by pests and diseases, cut down on the use of chemicals, reduce labour cost, and help the country produce more nutritious foods. According to Zakaria, Adam, and Abujaja (2011), Ghana is adopting the technology to improve agricultural production and increase farmers’ income.
Controversy over GM Foods
All over the world, discussions on GM foods continue to remain a controversial issue (Tadesse, 2008). Despite all the benefits of genetic modification technology proclaimed by many biotechnology companies, the controversy surrounding its application to food production persists in many countries (Chen and Chern, 2002). Ghana is no exception. Onyango, Govindasamy, Hallman, Jang, and Puduri (2004) observes that the discussion on GM foods has split the public into two. On one side of the debate are the supporters of the technology, who emphasise its importance to mankind, assuring it will ensure improved supply of food, feed, and medicine, as well as reduce insecticide usage on the farm and cut down on labour cost. The proponents argue
that producing GM foods is the only way to ensure the world’s future food security because climate change and urbanisation is making it more difficult to feed an increasing world population (Yengoh, Armah and Onuamah, 2012). They say the technology will play an important role in increasing production, income and efficient use of resources for the economic development of particularly developing countries (Tadesse, 2008).
