The Ghana GM Food Debate: Balancing the Arguments

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• Nana Oben 11 years ago

  If GMO is "here to stay", why is it now being rejected by many countries in the EU, Asia, some South American countries, and NOTABLY INDIA, AND SOME CONSTITUENTS EVEN IN THE US?
  If GMO were to GHANA'S benefit, WHY ARE WE BEI ...
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  If GMO is "here to stay", why is it now being rejected by many countries in the EU, Asia, some South American countries, and NOTABLY INDIA, AND SOME CONSTITUENTS EVEN IN THE US?
  If GMO were to GHANA'S benefit, WHY ARE WE BEING COERCED AND BRIBED (with Obama's $75.0 Mil) to adopt it?
  You, Mr. "Scientist" may not know the Power and Reach of Intellectual property, and the zeal of US lawyers to recoup patent infringements. Please read more!!

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• A.Salam 11 years ago

  Nana Obeng I appreciate your concerns especially the duress that seem to be behind the GMO adoption. But per my understanding of the article, the difficulty is not about adoption or not but rather the regulatory and policy sy ...
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  Nana Obeng I appreciate your concerns especially the duress that seem to be behind the GMO adoption. But per my understanding of the article, the difficulty is not about adoption or not but rather the regulatory and policy system that will accompany it. These parts of the world that are rejecting GMO may be victims of poor projectional planning or action towards the short falls of GMO, which is for all life phenomenon.
  Personally, my fear is the negligence tendency of Ghana and not the GM.

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• Paul Amuna 11 years ago

  Salam, you hit the nail right on the head. These are the real issues that we should be examining, along with the merits (and de-merits) of GM foods generally, not the blanket condmenation without proper scrutiny of a writer's ...
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  Salam, you hit the nail right on the head. These are the real issues that we should be examining, along with the merits (and de-merits) of GM foods generally, not the blanket condmenation without proper scrutiny of a writer's arguments.

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• Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 11 years ago

  Paul, the debate on GMO is often conducted emotionally and fundamentally by both sides. It's similar to the debate on Global Warming or Climate Change. Both for and against are very suspicious of each other's motives. I am al ...
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  Paul, the debate on GMO is often conducted emotionally and fundamentally by both sides. It's similar to the debate on Global Warming or Climate Change. Both for and against are very suspicious of each other's motives. I am also not convinced of the argument that GMO is the solution to global hunger. Global hunger is not the result of lack of enough food but rather access to food (both availability and affordability). It is also not simply about bad weather or poor harvest and neither is it about the inability of the people to produce enough food. Though some of these factors are true in most developing countries, a major cause is bad leadership. As Acheampong's Operation Feed Yourself policy clearly demonstrated in Ghana that Ghana and for that matter most developing countries are capable of or more than being self sufficient in food production and exporting the excess.
  
  As you right said, we are already consuming GMO, whether we like it or not and GMO multinationals are after profits for their investments as well as controlling what we can grow, produce and eat tomorrow. The latter is the greatest danger, especially for developing countries because that is almost equal to giving or taking away our national sovereignty. Even our local plant medicines or herbs would be owned by multinationals one day through their GM Technology.
  
  The other danger you rightly identified is the regulatory system. Even in the developed world, sometimes, governments are not able to effectively regulate and monitor the food chain. A typical example was the recent horse meat in the food chain in the UK. This is because often, these multinationals are too powerful, very effective at lobbying legislators and governments and in fact, pay masters of politicians. This is another danger , especially, in developing countries where impunity is the order of the day, in addition to the fact that institutions are very weak and politicians are corrupt.
  
  We need an open and objective mind to debate issues on GMO because it has become a necessary evil that would not go away. The Plant Bleeding Bill was made available on either Joy or Peace FM online and I downloaded a copy but have not had time to read it.
  
  There is more to GMO that we may never know. I guess Donald Rumsfeld's known knowns and unknown unknowns quotation best describes GMO. Good night.

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• Asiwome 11 years ago

  "GM as ‘alien’ to our culture; “dangerous to our health”; a “conspiracy” by multinationals to “take over” our food system." I agree with all of the above. I must add that the creator has not asked for your hel ...
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  "GM as ‘alien’ to our culture; “dangerous to our health”; a “conspiracy” by multinationals to “take over” our food system." I agree with all of the above. I must add that the creator has not asked for your help in creating anything. This is a big moral issue. Try regulating death sometime!

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• Paul Amuna 11 years ago

  and motor vehicles and electricity, and should not even be able to commuicate so easily on this medium. Don't you think?

  and motor vehicles and electricity, and should not even be able to commuicate so easily on this medium. Don't you think?

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• Umar Najeeb, Emirates 10 years ago

  This is an excellent article and goes to show the efforts and time spent by those genuine individuals like Mr. Paul that like to make a positive, fair and just assessment to exploring options to gain clarity to issues as such ...
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  This is an excellent article and goes to show the efforts and time spent by those genuine individuals like Mr. Paul that like to make a positive, fair and just assessment to exploring options to gain clarity to issues as such and to understand the reality before drawing any conclusions. Again, I cannot iterate enough the rationale employed here in this article to help those that are suffering from chronic hunger and do not know where there next meal comes from. How many of you truly have been in situations where you do not know where your next meal comes from? You speak to anyone in this situation I am sure they will be more than happy to have something to quench their thirst and fill their hunger. As Mr. Paul mentioned earlier, solutions can be provided (via thorough vetting by qualified experts) as short and long-term. The notion that this is not a potential viable option from some comments I have read to overcome this challenge of our brothers and sisters is a farce. What makes it worse is the false-propaganda against those kind, warm and genuine hearts like Mr. Paul. Those that oppose this, what is the alternative for short/long-term solutions? Instead of employing tangent tactics please get real and wake up to the cause of humanity and if you should oppose then let substance of your viewpoint propose.
  
  Having read some of Mr. Paul's previous articles I clearly see the link between educated, productive, rationale thoughts with best informed behavioural practices to find solutions to these plights that mankind in the 21st Century have to endure. Spirit, harmony and collaboration for the interest of the people is what is required.
  
  Look forward to your next topic. Is there a way I can follow these articles or get alerts?

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• Yag 11 years ago

  Author examined Prince Charles of UK reasons for rejecting GM food and promoting organic food vigorously. There should be a balanced Right for all.

  Author examined Prince Charles of UK reasons for rejecting GM food and promoting organic food vigorously. There should be a balanced Right for all.

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• Paul Amuna 11 years ago

  with a vested interest. His knowledge of the science is very limited too.

  with a vested interest. His knowledge of the science is very limited too.

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• Kwadwo Arhin 11 years ago

  "Whilst one has no beef against introducing such an important landmark Bill, it is rather regrettable that a copy is not in the public domain to allow experts, academics and others with the right technical background to exami ...
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  "Whilst one has no beef against introducing such an important landmark Bill, it is rather regrettable that a copy is not in the public domain to allow experts, academics and others with the right technical background to examine it and to provide some input into the final Bill to be debated in parliament."
  
  Search PeaceFM for the damn thing and shut the hell up!!

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• Jojo Hammond, New Jersey 11 years ago

  Mr. Arhin, the author asked for a debate on the subject and is making efforts to begin one. I did not read anything in this piece that the Mr. Amuna indicated that he knew everything. In my view, as part of this debate your ...
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  Mr. Arhin, the author asked for a debate on the subject and is making efforts to begin one. I did not read anything in this piece that the Mr. Amuna indicated that he knew everything. In my view, as part of this debate your contribution in informing him that the document he is claiming is not in the public domain, is actually available on PeaceFM (I assume their website). In fact, I did not know either.
  
  The language in your last sentence is definitely not in the spirit of the debate Mr. Amuna called for.
  
  This is a very sensitive and technical subject and I, like the author, want to see a vigorous debate on the issue.
  
  Paul, I look forward to reading your second installment.

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• Kwadwo Arhin 11 years ago

  Jojo Hammond, New Jersey:
  
  I don't like educated idiots like you. I have shown you where to find it. Now you want spoon-feeding? Tewaah!! And we wonder why Ghana is standing still.
  
  So, until I put it here, you will never ...
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  Jojo Hammond, New Jersey:
  
  I don't like educated idiots like you. I have shown you where to find it. Now you want spoon-feeding? Tewaah!! And we wonder why Ghana is standing still.
  
  So, until I put it here, you will never see it? Such stupidity!!

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• Paul Amuna 11 years ago

  Like Jojo Hammond, I have not seen the draft Bill you say is on Peace FM (which I have never visited). For the benefit of the general readership, please get a copy and ask ghanaweb to publish it for information so that we can ...
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  Like Jojo Hammond, I have not seen the draft Bill you say is on Peace FM (which I have never visited). For the benefit of the general readership, please get a copy and ask ghanaweb to publish it for information so that we can study it in more detail. That would be a better contribution than being insulting don't you think?

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• Kwadwo Arhin 11 years ago

  "For the benefit of the general readership, please get a copy and ask ghanaweb to publish it for information so that we can study it in more detail. That would be a better contribution than being insulting don't you think?"
  ...
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  "For the benefit of the general readership, please get a copy and ask ghanaweb to publish it for information so that we can study it in more detail. That would be a better contribution than being insulting don't you think?"
  
  You have never visited PeaceFM; after you have the info, your lazy stinking a** still can't do it?
  
  Lazy crap!!

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• Gordon 11 years ago

  First of all' i think you are bias and may be one of those influenced by money.
  GMO is NOT entirely rejected.It is monsanto's dangerous chemicals etc etc which is being rejected. Monsanto has withdrawn its presentation from ...
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  First of all' i think you are bias and may be one of those influenced by money.
  GMO is NOT entirely rejected.It is monsanto's dangerous chemicals etc etc which is being rejected. Monsanto has withdrawn its presentation from the EU because it was going to be rejected.Please read the 'PRESS RELEASE' to the GOV'T and that of Parliament to familialise yourself with all the dangers of Monsanto chemicals. Posterity will condem those who take money to impose the Plant Breeders Bill on Ghana.

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• Paul Amuna 11 years ago

  inbcluding the commercial interests of biotech companies like Monsanto and how our regulatory authorities handle any perceived or real harm they may be causing us. That is what this debate is all about. Perhaps you did not re ...
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  inbcluding the commercial interests of biotech companies like Monsanto and how our regulatory authorities handle any perceived or real harm they may be causing us. That is what this debate is all about. Perhaps you did not read my first paragraph in which I declared no conflict of interest on the matter. Unless you want to say you do not trust nor believe me, in which case we have no good basis for an honest and open discussion on the matter. Learn to trust others if you want to be taken seriously yourself.

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• Abena Ama 11 years ago

  You block headed.You know nothing! what is your level of education?

  You block headed.You know nothing! what is your level of education?

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• Dr. Martin 11 years ago

  Ok Mr Amuna,may be I was wrong about you,you are not one of the fake PR scientists. I must confess I like your article. You are calling for a balanced debate on the GM issue and I say let's do it. I have my own theory though, ...
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  Ok Mr Amuna,may be I was wrong about you,you are not one of the fake PR scientists. I must confess I like your article. You are calling for a balanced debate on the GM issue and I say let's do it. I have my own theory though,to explain why this issue is one of the most polarizing of issues, not only here on Ghanaweb or in Ghana but all over the world.
  
  The debate has always been one sided from the very inception of the GM revolution, in favor of the Industry. Until recently, all the world knew about it, was what the industry was willing to reveal. From the approval process to the testing process have all been shrouded in secrecy, and political machinations. Independent Scientists who dared to research the GMOs have been harassed,discredited or forcefully terminated. Every single study sponsored by the industry has been positive whereas every independent study has found problems.
  
  You are a scientist, and you know that is not possible. It means that somehow somebody is not telling the whole truth and this is what is fueling the fires of the debates.
  
  So yes I agree with you that there is the need for an unbiased debate but we must avoid the tendency to think that this is a zero sum game, in the sense that unless we at all cost implement the GM revolution, we are going to starve as a nation.

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• Paul Amuna 11 years ago

  I welcome your views and agree that each side seems to be selective in their reporting. We therefore need to scrutinise both sides carefully. I hope that in the coming weeks as we continue the debate, we will be better inform ...
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  I welcome your views and agree that each side seems to be selective in their reporting. We therefore need to scrutinise both sides carefully. I hope that in the coming weeks as we continue the debate, we will be better informed and also lay the facts bare to help us make informed choices.

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• Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro. 11 years ago

  OFFICE OF THE ODIKRO
  a companion of the black star!
  
  Hi Dr. Martin,
  
  I'm glad that you saw this! The article really flies low. If we live in a world in which we have twice the amount of food needed to feed everyone and y ...
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  OFFICE OF THE ODIKRO
  a companion of the black star!
  
  Hi Dr. Martin,
  
  I'm glad that you saw this! The article really flies low. If we live in a world in which we have twice the amount of food needed to feed everyone and yet over a billion people go to bed each day, hungry, the problem of chronic hanger cannot be found in marketing patented crops.
  
  The minimum he ought to have done was to have read the Plant Breeders' Bill. The place to go to look for a document like this ought to be the website of our Parliament. The Bill has been published there.
  
  The writer of this article is clearly incapable of conducting any sustained independent research, if he could not even find a simple thing as the Plant Breeders Bill on the website of the Parliament of Ghana! Ignorant people like that are rather the ones causing all the confusion. It appears he knows what he is doing, trying to cause confusion whilst smuggling in the GMOs!
  
  He claims he wants evidence-based argument, yet he slips in the spin of increase in yield as a given, and also as a solution to "CHRONIC HUNGER". He does nothing to explain why the world has double the amount of food needed to feed everyone, but hundreds of millions go to bed hungry everyday.
  
  For Life, the Environment, and Social Justice!
  
  Social Media Outreach
  Communications Department
  Food Sovereignty Ghana,
  
  Email: ,
  Website: /foodsovereigntyghana.org/
  Twitter: /twitter.com/FoodSovereignGH
  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FoodSovereigntyGhana

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• Whatever 11 years ago

  Nana Akyea greetings. There's no technicality with this subject apart from the genetic engineering techniques that their scientist apply to food in laboratories. And you're right, this guy lacks the ability - not capability, ...
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  Nana Akyea greetings. There's no technicality with this subject apart from the genetic engineering techniques that their scientist apply to food in laboratories. And you're right, this guy lacks the ability - not capability, to find things out. And I wonder what he meant by "evidence-based argument" which is a such ruckus of a debate which lacks deep intellectual connection. What he should be saying is 'ARGUMENT OF PROOF'. I told you this guy he doesn't understand simple English, how can he understand the long-term effects of GMO on humans with such deficiency in analytic thinking?

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• Whatever 11 years ago

  What is the content of GMO? Are you daft or what? When someone says genetically modified food, do you need another piece of information to explain it again? Don't you understand English Language communication? 'GENETICALLY' i ...
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  What is the content of GMO? Are you daft or what? When someone says genetically modified food, do you need another piece of information to explain it again? Don't you understand English Language communication? 'GENETICALLY' is adverb which qualifies the act of modifying or altering of the food. Indeed GM foods are foods that have been modified and the modification covers the genes that's why it's called genetic. If you want to tackle chronic hunger, do you have to go damage and destroy your genes before doing that? What do you gain such a foolish act? Why are you so unintelligent. The genome in a human being is set and oriented so any unfamiliar gene which enters the human system will automatic lead to conflict and inevitable damage to the stationed DNA in there in the long-run. The consequences thereof would be fatal. The fact that both suspecting and unsuspecting Americans consume GM foods does not mean GM foods are healthy for Ghanaians. If Americans themselves decide to change their own psyche and physical health, that's their own cup of tea. What we are oppose to is for the war of informational-related DNA to be targeted at Ghanaians. That is devilish. That is knifing the heart of Ghana

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• SAVE GHANANOW 11 years ago

  One day this GMO Evil will be totally discredited and banned, then we will search for all the Book long Academics and their cronies who opened the door for this Abrofo Abonsem to encroach on our land and fuck with them well w ...
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  One day this GMO Evil will be totally discredited and banned, then we will search for all the Book long Academics and their cronies who opened the door for this Abrofo Abonsem to encroach on our land and fuck with them well well!.

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• Umar Najeeb, Emirates 10 years ago

  Understanding and supportive evidence is key - I understood from the article that this is one of the points of this discussion to determine best outcomes through non-emotional discussions. Respect all humans and stay united! ...
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  Understanding and supportive evidence is key - I understood from the article that this is one of the points of this discussion to determine best outcomes through non-emotional discussions. Respect all humans and stay united! Peace out!

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• nii 11 years ago

  another agent for the FOOLS

  another agent for the FOOLS

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