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Supreme Court dismisses case against regulation of plant breeders

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The Supreme Court has, in a unanimous decision, dismissed a case filed against the regulation of plant breeders.
Parliament in 2020 passed the Plant Variety Protection Act, 2020 (ACT 1050) to regulate breeders.
A breeder under this law is a person who bred or discovered and developed a variety, the employer of the person or the successor in title of the person.
The law makes a breeder bound to any measure taken by Ghana to regulate the “production, certification and marketing of material of a variety of the importation or exportation of the material.
The law requires breeders to apply for a plant breeder right in order to undertake the activity. Food advocacy group, Food Sovereignty Ghana dragged the Attorney General to the Supreme Court contending that these portions of the law are unconstitutional.
The group through its lawyers argued that these portions of the law constitute “an unnecessary infringement on the farmers’ rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds and other propagating material.
They also pointed out that it hinders “farmers’ right to propagate material as same is hindered by authorisation”.
They pointed out that this law was passed to enforce an international convention which has not been ratified by Ghana.
The group wanted the Supreme Court to declare these portions of the law as unconstitutional. A seven-member Supreme Court panel presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie on May 31 unanimously dismissed the case. Justice Bonnie pointed out that “the case fails in its entirety as the jurisdiction of the court has not been properly invoked”.
He said the Court’s full reasons will be available on October 2, 2023. Other panel members were Justices Gabriel Pwamang, Professor Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, Lovelace Johnson, Emmanuel Y. Kulendi and Barba Ackah-Yensu. Lead counsel for the group Wayoe Ghanamannti told JoyNews he disagrees with the decisions.
“They said their jurisdiction have not been invoked. We are yet to see the reasons but we will wait and advise our clients and seek a review. It is trite law that domestic law and international law are different and must be ratified before they are used,” he stated.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
News
GMA rejects claims that vessel monitoring system Is ineffective

The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has rejected claims by Dennis Miracles Aboagye that its vessel monitoring system is ineffective and that vessels operating in Ghana’s waters are not being monitored.
The Authority described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that its maritime surveillance system is fully operational.
In a press release dated September 22, 2026, the GMA said it had taken note of comments made by Mr Aboagye on TV3’s Daily Brief and Joy FM’s Newsnite programmes.
According to the Authority, it maintains 24-hour surveillance of vessels operating within Ghana’s maritime domain using various maritime monitoring tools.
It explained that the system is also used to monitor and protect offshore oil and gas facilities, pipelines and submarine cables.
The GMA said it follows standard procedures to track vessels, verify their identities and check their compliance with maritime requirements.
It added that these measures support safety, security and environmental protection within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction.
The Authority therefore rejected the suggestion that vessels sailing in Ghanaian waters are not being monitored.
The GMA reaffirmed its commitment to continuous surveillance and the protection of Ghana’s maritime interests, while urging the public to disregard what it described as the inaccurate claims and rely on official information from the Authority.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Mahama calls for stronger domestic capacity and sustainable financing for Global South

President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger domestic capacity, effective institutions and sustainable financing as countries in the Global South continue to face growing debt pressures and disruptions in the international development landscape.
Speaking at a Presidential Roundtable organized by the Open Society Foundation in New York on Monday, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, President Mahama said the priority for developing nations must be to create jobs, improve public services, build infrastructure and expand opportunities, particularly for young people.
“When I speak about sovereignty in this context, I am speaking about the capacity to act,” President Mahama stated.
He further stressed the need for stronger coordination across government, greater domestic resource mobilisation, sound financial management and institutions capable of delivering measurable results.
“Where an approach proves successful, the next step should be its adoption into public systems, local delivery institutions, and long-term financing models,” he added.
The high-level roundtable brought together presidents and chief executives of major global foundations to discuss sustainable development, financing and strengthening institutions across the Global South.
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