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Biotechnology scientists converge in Ghana to deliberate on genetically modified organisms
Scientists behind biotechnology have gathered in Ghana, Accra to deliberate on how genome editing and genetically modified organism technologies can be applied appropriately to benefit African farmers and the world at large.
Genome editing technology is a tool that enables genetic engineering where DNA is replaced, deleted or inserted in the genome of a living organism while a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
The International Symposium held on the theme: Increasing Access to New Tools, Technologies and Methods in Africa’s Agriculture on Friday among other issues discussed the future of biotech crops in Africa from the perspectives of scientists, government, officials and regulators.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Leena Tripathi, Eastern Africa Director of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Leader of Biotechnology, said farmers at most times lose about 80 per cent of their crops to pests and other diseases leaving many in abject poverty.
In addition, he explained that due to the pests, farmers sometimes sprayed pesticides eight times in a season, pointing out that such constant spraying cost farmers a lot of money.
Dr Tripathi indicated that scientists had developed the pod borer-resistant (PBR) varieties to help fight pests that destroyed the crop at all stages of its development and was hopeful that regulators would work with them to help alleviate poverty among farmers and also ensure the country’s food security.
The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo, lamented that agriculture and food production remained a major priority of the country however, successive governments had made relentless efforts to make investments, guided by policies and strategies to ensure sustainable agriculture.
Mr Addo noted that food remained indispensable for the survival of humans and that science had established that there was limited time beyond which mankind could not survive without food adding that “investment in agriculture, with support from education and health, will guarantee sustainable food production and nutrition for citizens globally.
“The government is not relenting in its efforts to transform agriculture as the sector is the driving force behind the economy, presenting the best opportunity for accelerated industrialisation, job creation and poverty reduction,” he underscored.
Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, Founding Director, West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, observed that smallholder farmers in Africa needed access to biotech crops more than farmers anywhere else in the world.
According to him, the time had come for African governments to use available data on biotech solutions to take decisions that would improve livelihoods and lift millions out of extreme hunger and poverty in Africa.
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for Prince Krah, a 30-year-old military officer, in connection with the brutal murder of a couple at Saki, near Tema Golf City.
A GH₵100,000 reward has been offered for any credible information leading to his arrest.The victims, identified as Ebenezer Kwabena Obiri, 45, and Mary Anim, 22, were discovered dead in their chamber-and-hall apartment on May 1, 2026.
According to police reports, both bodies bore multiple machete wounds. Investigators established that the suspect had been cohabiting with the couple prior to the incident.
Police records indicate that Mr. Obiri was last seen alive in the company of Krah on the night of April 30.
Following preliminary investigations, the Kpone Magistrate Court issued a warrant for the suspect’s arrest on May 4.Krah is described as being approximately 5.7 feet tall, dark in complexion, and of stout build.
He was last seen wearing a Lacoste shirt and jeans.Security intelligence suggests that Krah has gone into hiding and may be seeking refuge within the Kakusunanka area or the Kamina Barracks in Tamale.
They have urged the public to exercise caution and report any sightings of the suspect to the nearest police station or via the emergency toll-free lines 191 or 112.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for the immediate release of former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Food Buffed Stock Company, NAFCO over what he describe as extra judicial harassment.
In a statement by the minority leader, he noted that “I have become aware of the unwarranted arrest and incarceration of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) yesterday, 5th May, 2026.”
Mr.Afenyo-Markins described the incident as a needless and face-saving arrest adding that “followed one year of arraignment of the two accused persons with 3 others in court on charges whose weakness and frivolity were exposed by defence counsel through objections raised and upheld by the court at the Case Management Conference held in the course of the trial.”
According to him the Attorney-General, in response to the objections raised and in a bid to boost the weak prosecution he had initiated, attempted to introduce fresh witness statements without leave of the court, contrary to the rules governing the conduct of criminal proceedings in the Republic.
He added that when an objection was raised again by defence counsel led by Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame and same was upheld by the court, the Attorney-General’s next move was to withdraw all the charges against the accused persons.
According to him “One would have thought that EOCO would step back, conduct more thorough investigations and understand the matter before deciding whether to charge the accused persons again or not.”
“However, in an impulsive and knee-jerk reaction, EOCO re-arrested Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife for offences unknown to even his legal team and whisked them off to the EOCO office. Strangely, they have been refused bail and have been kept in custody since yesterday, even though they were on bail granted by the court just before the charges were withdrawn,” he added.
He further noted that Hanan’s lawyers, who were at the offices of EOCO from about 11 am until 8 pm last night, were denied access to him.
This according to the Afenyo-Markin the conduct of EOCO, the Attorney-General and the Government as a whole, in harassing and torturing these innocent citizens of the land in the manner described above, very shameful, reprehensible and most unworthy of a healthy democracy that Ghana has struggled to build the past 33 years.
He therefore added that the law enforcement processes should be deployed to deal with actual wrongdoing in accordance with due process and not utilised as a propagandist machinery for the Government by arresting and detaining leading members of the opposition as a way of purporting to give meaning to the Government’s failed ORAL promise.
“I take note that the Attorney-General held a massive press conference last year, cited the Buffer Stock case as a major example of the ORAL drive, and vilified these same accused persons as having stolen money from the State when he had not even filed any charges against them,” he added.
“EOCO’s move in rearresting the accused persons after charges had been withdrawn (after a whole year of subjecting the accused persons to unnecessary assassination of their character) is clearly a desperate attempt to save the face of the Attorney-General and sustain a false impression of a continuation of the Government’s failed ORAL promise,” he noted.
“The EOCO boss, Raymond Archer, must learn to operate in accordance with due process like his predecessors used to do. That important institution of State must not be turned into a rogue outfit for harassing and torturing innocent citizens extra judicially when the Government becomes frustrated by a failure to prove offences levelled against them in a court of law, as we have seen in the Buffer Stock,” he said.
“I call on EOCO and the Attorney-General to release Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni immediately.This impunity must stop,” he concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
