4 TH ANNUAL OFAB REVIEW OF GHANA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

1. 4TH ANNUAL OFAB REVIEW OF GHANA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES By Dr. Margaret OttahAtikpo (OFAB Focal Person) CSIR-Food Research Institute Accra, Ghana 22 - 26 April 2014, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

2. PERFORMANCE OF OFAB IN 2013 • All regions of Ghana visited by OFAB • Presentation/translation into local languages that pertain in each area during regional tours • Adequate information provided to participants for informed decisions to be made • FAQs documented • Translation of vital documents into local languages e.g. ISAAA 2013 brief translated into Akan • Collaboration with USAID and PBS • Parliamentarians/Politicians/Policy makers/Chiefs now well informed for decisions to be made on biotech issues • Farmers more informed and receptive of biotechnology • General public more educated about biotechnology • Activists/civil society organisations penetrated with GMO facts, thus some members being less vocal/negative against OFAB

3. IMPACT STORIES • Impact story 1: • ANTI GM FOOD CAMPAIGNERS EXPOSED AT MEETING WITH GHANA’S PARLIAMENTARIANS Groups that met: • The joint Parliamentary Select Committee on Health; Environment and Science; Food and Agriculture, and Trade and Industry • Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG) comprised of members of Rastafarian Society of Ghana, Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) representatives, Chairman of a political party and two lawyers • OFAB PC members made up of scientists from CSIR, GAEC-BNARI and FARA • Representatives and drafters of the Plant Breeders Bill from CSIR and legal luminaries from the Attorney- Generals’ Department • Petition by FSG: Plant Breeders Bill (Clause 23 controversy) should not be passed because *it is a ploy being used to introduce GM foods into Ghana, *it will impoverish Ghanaian farmers, and place the rights of foreign corporate seed producing companies above that of Ghanaians, * the bill is aimed at preparing the grounds for foreign GM seed producing companies to hijack Ghana’s food production system • Verdict: FSG reprimanded by the Chairman of Committee for lack of substance; and sternly warned to be serious and focus on their specific concerns of sections of the bill they oppose

4. IMPACT STORY CONT’D • Impact story 2: • GHANA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS AND FISHERMEN (GNAFF) ORGANIZE PRESS CONFERENCE TO BACK GM FOOD TECHNOLOGY Groups that met: • Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) • OFAB Ghana-Chapter • Media • Cause: Demonstrations and route marches by Civil Society Organizations led by FSG to influence Parliament to reconsider passage of the Biosafety Bill of 2011, and also passage of the Plant Breeders Bill currently before the house • Outcome: *GNAFF appealed to Parliament to pass the Plant Breeders Bill as it will help farmers get access to improved seeds for increased agricultural productivity , *GNAFF debunked assertions by FSG and other Civil Society Groups that biotechnology and GMOs are cancer-causing agents, *GNAFF asserted that FSG’s ‘message that they disseminate is neither logical, evidence-based nor has any merit’

5. IMPACT STORY CONT’D • Impact story 3: • Press Conference/Workshop with British author, journalists, former anti-GM activist turned environmental activist (Mr. Mark Lynas) and meeting with Parliamentarians Groups that met for Press Conference/Workshop : • OFAB Ghana Chapter • Media • Farmers • Scientists from research institutions and universities • Lecturers and students from tertiary institutions Groups at Meeting: • Parliamentarians • OFAB Ghana Chapter • Mr. Mark Lynas • Mr. Daniel Otunge (OFAB Africa Coordinator) • Reason: Mark Lynas to explain to media for onward passage to the public about reliance on the science behind the production of Genetically Modified Foods; why GM Foods are safe, just as conventionally produced ones; falsehood in claims that GM Foods damage the environment, and cause diseases. • Outcome of Press Conference/Workshop:Mark Lynas’ called on *Ghanaians to accept GM Foods and biotechnology and allayed fears of many farmers; *outlined the impact of negativity and lack of knowledge about the effects of GM foods on the environment and food security; * explained why adoption of GM crops is good solution to protect crops from climate change, pests and diseases; *and technology would positively transform agricultural production remarkably, *press conference, workshop and interview were featured on TV, radio stations and in newspapers. • Outcome of Meeting with Parliamentarians: Discussions with Parliamentarians improved their understanding of GMOs.

6. IMPACT STORY CONT’D • Impact story 4: ANTI GM FOOD CAMPAIGNER REPENTS AT OFAB SESSION Groups that met at Workshop (Wa, Upper West Region): • Farmers • Chiefs • Journalists/media • MCEs/DCEs • Agricultural extension officers • Parliamentarians/politicians • Scientists • OFAB team Activist journalist from GBC radio • Reason: OFAB monthly Workshop to highlight benefits of technology vis-a-vis food security • Outcome: Journalist confessed he had made up his mind to revert from activism because the Workshop had enlightened him to be more well informed • Strategy adopted by OFAB: Names of anti GM activists now turned pro- will be withheld in order to protect them from the wrath of activists/civil society groups and not to deter other activists confessing and changing ‘camps’. Meanwhile OFAB will be in close contact with them and use them to convert others

7. IMPACT STORY CONT’D • Impact story 5: ANTI GM FOOD CAMPAIGNER REPENTS AT ISAAA LAUNCH IN 2014 Groups that met at ISAAA Launch: • Farmers/fishermen (GNAFF) • Journalists/print media • Radio stations • TV houses • OFAB • Scientists • PBS (collaborator) • Reason: ISAAA launch on Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops • Outcome: Activist repented and switched camp to join GNAFF

8. LESSONS LEARNT • Intensification of OFAB activities and interactions is weapon against activists • Immediate response to address wrong information advanced by activists was effective • Concentration on preaching biotech issues at many fora transformed ‘souls’ • Engaging in radio, TV talk shows/discussions served purpose • Lobbying of parliamentarians was useful • Inviting and engaging high level politicians in OFAB workshops diffused certain negative moves by other politicians • Identifying and engaging champions served to sway decisions positively • Documentation of anti-GM activists now turned pro-GM

9. CHALLENGES All major challenges were from activists: • Fabrication of stories by activists e.g. fluids from lizard used to inject foods to genetically modify them • GM war of words! • Misinformation of policy makers • Attempts to politicise issues to sway decisions in favour of activists • Demonstrations and route march by activists to win public interest/sympathy • Strange pictorial presentations in print media articles e.g. spider inserted in tomato to frighten and confuse farmers • Some editors of some media houses threaten to dismiss journalists who carry GM stories

10. OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLOIT • To organise special sessions for editors • Seeing-is-believing tours of CFTs and other facilities engaged in GM • Contribution to national direction on biotech by more interaction with policy makers • Lobbying parliamentary select committees • Use of anti-GM activists turned pro • Presentation to select groups/associations in Ghana e.g. Churches, clubs. Focal person presented to Rotary Club of Accra West • Collaboration with USAID and PBS in organization of events • Collaboration of USAID with CSIR and OFAB to organise workshops in some identified regions • Use of AATF trained media in all regions

11. OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLOIT (CONT’D) • Use of proactive persons identified in Netmapping Workshop • Event tracking to address/respond quickly to anomalies/misrepresentations in media tools • Providing websites in presentations for information of participants to inform themselves by reading widely • Engaging champions in society identified in Netmapping exercise more effectively • Using organised associations e.g. GNAFF • Responding immediately to falsehood e.g. call-ins to radio programmes and rejoinders in print media articles • Combination of nutritional and health education during workshops on GM

12. THANK YOU Email: magatik@yahoo.co.uk Tel no.: +233 20 8161431