Ghana is moving to strengthen its biosafety regime, with plans to tighten monitoring and improve coordination across institutions following the validation of its Fifth National Report on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
The validation exercise, involving key state agencies, research institutions and civil society groups, forms part of preparations to submit the report to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Chief Executive of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), Mr Kwame Dei Asamoah Okyere, said the review process had highlighted both progress made and gaps that must be addressed to enhance Ghana’s biosafety regulatory framework.
Speaking in an interview, he explained that the report provides a comprehensive assessment of measures Ghana has taken to regulate genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in line with obligations under Article 33 of the Cartagena Protocol, which requires periodic national reporting by member states.
Although the report represents the fifth reporting cycle globally, Mr Asamoah Okyere noted that it is Ghana’s fourth submission, as the country did not participate in the initial reporting phase. He added that the reporting period covered five years, rather than the usual four, due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the major outcomes of the validation meeting was a recommendation for the NBA to establish a structured mechanism to coordinate biosafety capacity-building activities nationwide. According to the NBA Chief Executive, while several training programmes have been organised over the years, there is currently no formal system to assess training needs, harmonise interventions or track competencies across institutions involved in biosafety regulation.
He also underscored the need to strengthen surveillance and monitoring systems to prevent the circulation of unapproved GMO products, both within local markets and at points of entry into the country. As part of this effort, the NBA plans to intensify field surveillance by deploying staff from across its departments to support inspection and monitoring activities.
Mr Asamoah Okyere said Ghana aims to submit the validated report online through the Biosafety Clearing-House by February 14, 2026, ahead of the official deadline of February 28, following its publication by the National Focal Point.
He noted that the findings and recommendations from the reporting process would inform Ghana’s biosafety priorities for the next review period, expected around 2029.
The stakeholder validation meeting brought together representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, seed associations, research laboratories, non-governmental organisations, and the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.
Chairman of the meeting, Professor Alfred Apau Oteng-Yeboah, a biodiversity conservation expert, praised participants for their active engagement and commitment to accuracy, describing the process as transparent and inclusive.
He said the quality of stakeholder input demonstrated Ghana’s growing capacity to meet its international obligations on biosafety while safeguarding public health, agriculture and biodiversity.
