This he said will help the public understand and embrace biotechnology as a better alternative to socio-economic advancement.

He said such public education on biotechnology, especially on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), was needed to be carried out by the Board “to help correct the wrong perception created in the minds of the public regarding the technology.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ftPtqLG1zRbZ3IV85Lk7MrM9LwqMtOtE”]“Biotechnology is so important and we can’t develop without it”, the Minister noted, adding that countries like China in 1986 embraced biotechnology and did extensive research in various biotechnology systems which resulted in it fast advancement globally.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 13-member board of Directors of the NBA in Accra on Monday, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said since GMOs were good technological systems that help improve crop and plant varieties and ensure food security, it is proper that the public is well engaged to help them better understand and accept biotechnology.

He said GMOs were a branch of biotechnological systems that have been adopted by many countries including China to help develop plants and crops that were highly resistance to diseases and pests, thereby ensuring higher yields.

The new board, which has a three-year mandate, is chaired by Professor Charles Antwi-Boasiako, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The Board is expected to make decisions on biosafety applications for safe development, transfer, handling and use of GMOs in Ghana, and address socio-economic issues related to biotechnology and biosafety.

It is also mandated to promote public awareness, participation and education, while establishing committees, including Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBCs) and set procedures for the operations of such committee, among other functions.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng explained that, genetically modified foods and products were being consumed everyday all over the world, and therefore, Ghanaians have to embrace GMOs as a new way of technological advancement that had come to stay to help the world cope with weather changes.

He said the Crop Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) continues to research and develop new plant and crops varieties like yams, maize, cassava and potatoes that were more resistant to the changing weather patterns, and gave the assurance that these were very safe for consumption.

He said Government on it parts initiated the biosafety system some 19 years ago for the country to have an appropriate and transparent decision-making mechanism for modern biotechnology for the benefit of the people and the environment.

The Biosafety Act, subsequently passed in 2011 in line with Ghana’s obligation under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, legalizes Biosafety, to help the country make decisions on modern biotechnology, based on risk assessment and other considerations.

The Act also legally established the NBA.

The Minister noted that, government recognizes the potential adverse effects the technology could have on the environment and health, and therefore, had adopted Biosafety as a decision making mechanism for the management of the Technology.

He said the government, however, sees great potential in modern biotechnology and had therefore cited it in the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy as one of the precision technologies to be adopted to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.

He therefore, tasked the NBA to take immediate steps to work with the Finance Ministry to finalize the free regime for biosafety applications and also manage the GMO detection laboratories, which was about to be commissioned to generate income for the NBA and the government.

Prof Antwi-Boasiako on behalf of the board, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in the members, and gave the assurance that the Board would work tirelessly to make it relevant in the rapidly-changing global environment of science and technology.

He said the Board would also work to promote environmentally-sound application of biotechnology that maximizes its potential benefits and minimizes the likely risk to the environment and human health.

The Board would scrutinize the handling of requests for approval of application for “Contained or confined Activity use involving GMOs, Introduction into environment, import or place in the market, exports and the GMOs in transit.

Other members of the NBA Board include, Eric Amaning Okoree, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, Ms Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of Food and Drugs Authority, Dr Yaa Difie Osei, Chairperson of the Technical Advisory Committee of MESTI, Ms Adelaide Asantewaa Asante of MESTI, and Mr Emmanuel Kojo Gyimah, of the Association of Ghana Industries.

Others are; Lawyer Yaw D. Oppong, a legal Practitioner, Prof Victoria Pearl Dzogbefia, an Academician, Dr Francis Boateng Agyenim of the CSIR, Dr Anastasia Michaelina Yirenkyi of the Ministry of Health, and Mr Anthony Asewa Mensah of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The rest are Dr King-David Amoah, an NGO activist and Dr Samuel Asiedu Okantah, an academician.

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Source: GNA

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The Technical workshop is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

With an approved budget of 15 million Euro from the German Government, the “Environmentally Sound Disposal and Recycling of E-waste in Ghana” Programme would support MESTI to improve the conditions for sustainable management and disposal of e-waste in the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4ZK9qgSvC4VD0GeeSbBkxjgqGulXjJSc”]With five million euro as financial cooperation through GIZ and 10 million euro as financial cooperation through the KfW Development Bank, the programme is expected to improve access to services and reduce exposure to environmental and health risk.

Addressing stakeholders at the inception technical workshop on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, stressed the importance of tackling e-waste challenges in the country.

He said: “Working on sustainable solutions for e-waste management allows citizenry pursue the different development goals of the country.”

“And going into this, sustainable e-waste management will reduce environmental pollution and health risks to the population,” he said.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng added that the e-waste management when acquainted extensively would contribute to improving the working conditions of many scrap dealers as well as enhance the development of recycling industries in the country.

“While this approach will further provide much needed employment opportunities for people, making a contribution to the economic growth in the country will be assured”, he said.

Mr Alan Walsch, the Country Director of GIZ Ghana, said the Programme’s multi-stakeholder approach involving national and local government institutions, private companies and the informal sector was commendable.

“All stakeholders, including the ones making their livelihood of e-waste, need to be part of the solutions.” He said

Mr Walsch noted that the consultation of stakeholders would be an ongoing process through the implementation of the Programme, which would be determined until January 2020.

Mr Bright Acheampong, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority said the workshop was an opportune platform towards scaling up the youth’s ambition to venture into new initiatives with GIZ, as well as other stakeholders whose ideas and activities would ensure a better understanding, appreciation and preservation of the local environments.

He said to shore up the one-district one-factory agenda of the government, premium needed to be placed on power plants that would rely largely on combustible domestic and industrial waste to generate electricity.

He, therefore, called for an alternative livelihood programme for the youth who engaged in negative practices that affected the environment.

“The Youth Authority within the government’s manifesto will build capacity of the youth to advocate the strengthening of the many policies and programmes to manage the environment such as those under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Environment Protection Programme including the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control Management Act, 2016 (Act 917),” Mr Acheampong said.

Mr Chirstoph Retzlaff, the German Ambassador to Ghana, indicated that in addition, the German Federal State of North Rhine- Westphalia would support the establishment of a health post at Old Fadama for scrap workers through GIZ.

Stakeholders articulated the challenges they are facing in the sector and gave their recommendations for a successful implementation of the programme.

Participants who deliberated and shared ideas on the e-waste management included representatives from the public sector, Environmental Protection Agency, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Academia, waste management and recycling companies, retailers in the trade as well as the informal sector, including the Greater Accra Scrap Dealer Association.

In July 2016, Ghana’s legislature passed the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Bill 2016.

–

Source: GNA

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According to him, the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), must be reinforced in schools especially at the basic level to conscientize Ghanaians on the use of technology.

[contextly_sidebar id=”dGuB8mgKNvauyIRPIst15dqdpAVyDQOH”]Professor Frimpong-Boateng noted that, the science and technology infrastructure in the country is “very very weak” and there is the need to increase efforts to bring it to the fore of the country’s development.

He said, “We have to start from the schools with STEM, the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and let the children know why certain things are done. I think we need to create a critical mass of scientists because the science and technology infrastructure in Ghana is currently very very weak.”

We’ll create innovation centres 

He said his administration will ensure the creation of innovation centres in all regions of the country to harness the potential of persons who have the talent to become scientists and great innovators.

“We have to find the money for it. I believe the finance people will understand it. Now we spend just about 0.25% of our GDP on research and development and we know that we have to push it up to at least 1% and at best 2.5%. So if we budget for it, we will get dividends,” he added.

“If we say we don’t have money for research and development, and technical things, then we will remain where we are. The difference between us and them [development countries] is technology. The poverty gap is a technology gap, so whatever we have to do to bridge that gap, we have to do it.”

According to Professor Frimpong-Boateng, having more scientists in the country will enable persons with innovative ideas actualize them.

He said production of the famed Kantanka brand of cars, by Apostle Kwadwo Safo in the country could be promoted if there are more scientists and innovators to manufacture various parts for the car.

On securing funding to boost local technology and innovation, Prof. Frimpong Boateng said the government must as a matter of urgency ensure funding is available for science and technology development in the country.

‘About Prof. Frimpong Boateng’

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng is a trained physician and cardiothoracic surgeon who established the National Cardiothoracic Center and the Ghana Red Cross Society.

He is also the President of the Ghana Heart Foundation and was once the Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. In March 2006, he announced his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party presidential primaries for the December 2008 National Presidential Elections.

He however lost in his attempt against now President-elect, Nana Akuffo-Addo, who had subsequently lost the 2008 elections to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC), John Evans Atta-Mills. Prof. Frimpong-Boateng is married with five children, and he’s very passionate about science and technology, which remains pivotal to any country’s development.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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