By Mavis Otchere
The Ghana Chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), has organised a capacity building for influencers to strengthen advocacy on biotechnology and genetically modified (GM) products.
This initiative aims to empower key stakeholders, promote public awareness, and encourage the adoption of biotechnology as a vital tool for advancing agricultural productivity and supporting smallholder farmers.
The workshop, held in Accra, highlighted the importance of biotechnology in addressing food security and environmental sustainability. The National Coordinator of OFAB Ghana, Dr. Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, emphasisedthe transformative potential of biotechnology in agriculture. “Biotechnology is evolving as a powerful tool to enhance agricultural productivity while safeguarding the environment, ensuring food security, and creating a sustainable economy for the country,” he stated.
OFAB Ghana, established on July 11, 2011, by Act 831, aims to bring together key stakeholders, including scientists, industrialists, policymakers, and the media, to promote education on the application of biotechnology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to improve agricultural outcomes.
The workshop also addressed the need to attract young graduates into the agricultural sector by providing clear and accurate information on biotechnology, thereby dispelling misconceptions. Dr. Ampadu-Ameyaw called for increased collaboration among stakeholders to embrace biotechnology as a means to combat food security challenges and overcome limitations in agricultural development. He highlighted the role of biotechnology in achieving resilience and sustainable socio-economic development in Ghana.
The forum concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to actively participate in and support the use of biotechnology to advance Ghana’s agricultural sector and ensure long-term food security.
