The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) on Friday staged
a demonstration in Tamale-the Northern regional capital-to express their
disapproval with the introduction of Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs) in
to the country.
The farmers, numbering over 500, marched through the principals’
streets of Tamale and finally ended at the Regional Co-ordination Council,
where they presented a petition to the Regional Minister.
They carried placards some of which read, ‘Away with GMOs’ ‘Do
no damage farmers’ livelihoods’ GMOs is a killer’ etc.
The exercise brought together farmers from the Northern,
Upper West and Upper East Regions. There were support by ActionAid and the Centre
for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development both non-governmental organizations,
The president of the PFAG, Nashiru Adam, explained that the
introduction of the GMO seeds would worsen the plight of farmers by enslaving
them to large corporations that were into seed breeding. According to him ‘farmers
do not need genetically modified seeds but rather good roads, infrastructure,
efficient irrigation and marketing systems’.
He appeal to parliament to throw out the Plant Breeders Bill
and support local research institutions to come out with indigenous knowledge
to protect the nation from what he term as ‘neo-colonialist agenda’.
The Northern Regional Coordination Director, Mr. Alhassan
Issahaku, who received the petition on behalf of the regional minister,
promised to forward their concerns to the appropriate authorities. He commended
the farmers for the peaceful manner in which they express their grievances.
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