More than 100 science activists have in a letter to the National Biosafety Authority, urged it to approve Ghana’s first genetically modified crop, GMO cowpea.

The letter dated April 18, 2022, signed by 118 scientists and science activists said, “GMO crops, including the cowpea, have been confirmed by thousands of scientific and research organisations in Ghana and worldwide to be as safe as their non-GMO counterparts.”

“There is no documented evidence that GMOs have caused any harm to any individual who consumed them.”

The Ghana Gazette notification quotes the application to the NBA as saying Ghanaian farmers and consumers will benefit from the GMO cowpea as a result of higher yields, lower costs of inputs, and greater on-farm safety because of reduced pesticide usage, and decreased pesticide residue on the beans.

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Below are seven reasons the science activists said should motivate the authority to approve the GMO crop:

1. PBR cowpea will protect the health of farmers
2. PBR cowpea will protect the environment
3. PBR cowpea will offer farmers increased yield and increased income
4. PBR cowpea will improve nutrition
5. Ghana has adequate laws and institutions to regulate GMOs
6. PBR cowpea was produced by public sector scientists
7. PBR cowpea is safe