High Court dismisses suit against commercialization of GMO products

The Accra High Court has ruled against a suit seeking to challenge the commercialization of Genetically Modified products on the Ghanaian market.

During the hearing, the Court dismissed the claims brought by Food Sovereignty Ghana, which questioned the work conducted by the National Biosafety Authority on the commercialization of GMOs.

Justice Barbara Tetteh Charway ruled that the case brought by the plaintiffs [Food Sovereignty Ghana and others] failed to provide enough evidence to support their claims against the commercialization of GMOs in the country.

Justice Charway also ordered the labelling of all Genetically Modified products on the market to inform consumers.

The Court further requested relevant data regarding Bt Cowpea, which is imported from Nigeria's market and subsequently sold in Ghanaian markets.

The case brought by Food Sovereignty Ghana and three other groups sought declarations on the due process followed by law in the plans made by the National Biosafety Authority to commercialize GMOs.

They argued that the commercialization of GMOs in the Ghanaian market would pose significant health risks for consumers.

The case, which first started in 2015, has now been dismissed, with the full judgement of the Court provided to the public at a later date.

MA/EK