Samia happy ‘GMO’ bill has been deferred

Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Samia Nkrumah is elated about Parliament’s decision to defer further deliberations on the Plant Breeders’ bill.

“Comrades, the battle to save our dear nation has achieved yet another milestone,” she wrote on her Facebook wall.

“Our Party together with our partners have managed to kick against the Plant Breeders Bill, a prelude to the full-scale imposition of GMOs in our food chain.

“Parliament has deferred it. Let us keep up the fight and have the PBB totally rejected. Thanks to all who have supported this cause,” she said.

The Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 asked the Subsidiary Legislation of Parliament to do broader consultations with civil society groups which have raised concerns about the bill.

"I understand you perfectly that at the consideration stage we can’t move to second consideration stage. But if it’s not a procedure that will breach the Constitution, if we can find a way of dealing with our Standing Orders so that those issues can be discussed to pave way comfortably for the consideration stage, I urge for further consultation…,” the Speaker noted

The CPP and groups like Food Sovereignty Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Coalition of Ghana Farmers Association, Movement for Farmers Right against GMO Ghana, the National House of Chiefs, Brong Ahafo Traditional Chiefs and many others, have all kicked against the bill.