Africa-Press – Ghana. The Human Rights Court of the Accra High Court has dismissed the reliefs sought by Food Sovereignty Ghana against work done by the National Biosafety Authority on Genetically Modified products.
In her judgement, Justice Barbara Tetteh Charway indicated that the plaintiffs failed to substantiate and provide adequate evidence to back their claims.
Among others, Food Sovereignty Ghana and three other groups were seeking declarations on whether required processes and laws have been adhered to in the ongoing plans to commercialize GMOs.
The group also wanted a declaration from the Human Rights Court on whether or not the defendants observed the critical domestic and international laws of risk assessment and management in relation to the release and commercialization of Bt cowpea and rice in the country.
Again, they wanted a declaration from the court as to whether the defendants have proper and detailed documentations in relation to the area of risk assessment and management in relation to the intention to release and commercialize Bt cowpea and rice in the Ghanaian ecosystem, and if they met the accepted legal requirements in the handling of GMO activities.
The food advocacy group filed the case along with the Vegetarian Association of Ghana, Goaso Kayan Akuafo Kuo and Convention People’s Party.
The court in dismissing the reliefs by Food Sovereignty Ghana held that the Biosafety Authority had not released any GM products for commercialisation since they had been involved in extensive research work and sensitization of indigenes in the catchment area of their research.
Justice Tetteh Charway, however, ordered the National Biosafety Authority to label all Genetically Modified products on the market to educate the public and enable them make informed choices.
She also added that NBA provides all the relevant data on Bt Cowpea brought in from the Nigerian market and on sale in the Ghanaian market if any.
The full complement of the judgement on the suit which began in 2015 will be made available later by the court.
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