CPP Joins GMO Suit

An Accra Human Rights Court yesterday granted an application for joinder filed by the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to join the suit against the commercialization of Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) in Ghana.

The red cockerel party, by this action, has become the second party to the case, presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah.

Two more interest groups – Vegetarian Association of Ghana and the Kanya Akuafo Association – are expected to join the suit as third and fourth parties respectively.

Justice Essel Mensah accordingly adjourned hearing of the case until June 15, 2015 for the other parties to complete the processes to join the suit.

Civil society group – Food Sovereignty Ghana – has sued the government seeking an interim injunction on the production of GMO foods in the country.

The pressure group is asking the court to place an interim injunction on the release and commercialization of genetically modified cowpeas and rice currently being produced.

Sections 11 and 13 of the Biosafety Law provide that, 'A person shall not conduct a contained or confined use activity involving genetically modified organisms or their development of market GM organisms without the written approval of the Biosafety Authority.''

Food Sovereignty believes that Ghanaians are being constantly bombarded with news items containing false claims that the attempts to impose GM rice and beans are being done in accordance with the law which they claim is not entirely true.

'The law says '13. (1) A person shall not, without the prior written approval of the Authority, import or place on the market a genetically modified organism,'' plaintiff argued.

Plaintiff further states that Ghana is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Article 23 of the Protocol requires Parties, on their own and in cooperation with other States and international bodies, to promote and facilitate public awareness and education, including access to information regarding the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.

Food Sovereignty wants the defendants to consult the public in the decision-making process, to make public the final decision taken and to inform the public about the means of access to the Biosafety Clearing-House.

Again, the group wants all activities regarding GMOs to be suspended until the provisions of the Biosafety Act are fully respected.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
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