Ghana: Harmonise Biotech Regulations to Attract Investment - Minister

What the report says

Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged the government and regulators to align biotechnology rules so the sector can attract more investment. Speaking in Accra at the launch of the Biosafety and Biotechnology Expo, she argued that companies and researchers need clear, predictable approval processes and a better understanding of which agencies handle which parts of the system.

According to Ghanaian Times, the minister said uncertainty around regulation can discourage investors even when they are willing to meet strict standards. She pointed to the need for cooperation between the Food and Drugs Authority and the National Biosafety Authority, which have related responsibilities in biosafety and biotechnology oversight. She also said Ghana already has a legal framework in place, including the Biosafety Act and related regulations.

The event, organised by the National Biosafety Authority, is tied to a two-day expo planned for 2027 that will bring together regulators, researchers, universities, industry players, investors, students and farmers. The minister said a reliable regulatory system is especially important as Ghana works toward wider ambitions in vaccine research, development and manufacturing. She noted that the country aims to produce its first locally manufactured vaccine in 2027.

NBA chief executive Eric Dei also said the expo is meant to improve public and researcher understanding of biosafety rules. As background, the report noted that Ghana’s biosafety authority approved the country’s first genetically modified crop, Bt cowpea, in 2022.