Ghana
Latitude
7.9465N
Longitude
1.0232W
Overview
Ghana spans rainforest through forest-savanna to coastal savanna. Approximately ~20.7% of land is arable, supporting cocoa, cassava, yam, maize, oil palm, and plantain. Major imports include rice and wheat; major agricultural exports include cocoa and cashew. One GM crop is commercially approved: Bt cowpea (pod borer-resistant). Ghana also authorizes several GM maize and soybean events for food, feed, and processing (FFP).
GM Crops Planted
Cowpea - Seed Multplication
Hectarage
Area (ha) under GM Crops
Year: 2024
Total Area Under Cultivation: 100 Hectare(s)
Terms & Acronyms
Food, Feed or Processing (FFP)
Genetically Modified (GM)
Note
Commercial Release / General Approval cover Food/Feed Processing approval.
The approval decision on this site are only post 2015.
Biosafety Laws, Regulations
& Guidelines
BIOSAFETY ACT, 2011 (Act 831)
2012
National Biosafety Agency
Agence Nationale de Biosécurité (ANB)
Website: https://anb.bf/
Ghana’s Biosafety Act provides rules governing the transfer, handling and use of GMOs. The Act establishes the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and defines its functions and powers. It also establishes an Appeals Tribunal and provides with respect to inspections. The Act provided that: – NBA shall make decisions on applications for contained use of GMOs, introduction into the environment, or for importation, placing on the market or export. Risk assessment shall be carried out by the Board of the Authority on the advice of a Technical Committee and in accordance with Schedule 4. Regulatory agencies shall control activities of applicants in accordance with Schedule 5. The Act is supported by an implementing regulations -Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (L.I 2383).
GM Commercial Crops
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Approvals in Ghana
This section summarizes the Food, Feed or Processing (FFP) only, the Commercial Release or General (which imply production, commercialization and FFP),
and the Field Trials approvals for each crop. The approval’s decisions reported on this site only go back to 2015.
and the Field Trials approvals for each crop. The approval’s decisions reported on this site only go back to 2015.
Maize
| Event Code | Trade Name | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Link™ maize | Tolerance to glufosinate | BASF South Africa | 2022-06-30 | |
| YieldGard™ VT Pro™ | Insect resistant maize | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| MON-ØØØ21-9 | Roundup Ready™ maize | Tolerance to glyphosate | Syngenta South Africa (Pty), Ltd (SSAL) | 2024-02-15 |
| YieldGard™ maize | Insect resistant maize | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Maize modified for tissue selective glyphosate tolerance | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Droughtgard™ Maize | Tolerance to abiotic stress | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Maize modified for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance | Herbicide tolerance and insect resistance | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| YieldGard™ VT™ Rootworm/RR2™ Maize | Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Roundup Ready™ maize | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Agrisure™ Viptera maize | Insect resistant maize | Syngenta Crop Protection AG | ||
| YieldGard™ maize | Insect-resistant and herbicide tolerant maize | Syngenta South Africa (Pty), Ltd | 2024-10-11 | |
| Agrisure® Duracade™ Maize | Insect resistant maize | Syngenta Seeds GmbH | 2024-10-11 | |
| MZIR098 | Insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize | Syngenta South Africa (Pty), Ltd | 2024-10-11 |
No Commercial Release Crops at the moment
Field trial data not yet recorded for this entry
Soybean
| Event Code | Trade Name | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Link™ soybean | Tolerance to glufosinate | BASF South Africa | 2022-06-30 | |
| Herbicide-tolerant soybean | Herbicide-tolerant soybean | BASF South Africa | 2022-06-30 | |
| Insect resistant soybean | Insect resistant soybean | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | ||
| Roundup Ready2Yield™ soybean | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Dicamba Tolerant Soybean | Dicamba tolerant soybean | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Vistive Gold™ Soybean | Changes in quality and/or metabolite content (Lipid and fatty acids) Resistance to herbicides (Glyphosate) | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 | |
| Insect resistant soybean | Insect resistant soybean | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 2024-02-15 |
No Commercial Release Crops at the moment
Field trial data not yet recorded for this entry
Cowpea
NO FFP Only Approvals
No Commercial Release Crops at the moment
| Event Code | Trade Name | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute | 2022-06-30 | |
| Cowpea resistant to maruca pod borer | Insect resistant cowpea | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute | 2023-10-31 | |
| Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | AATF and Institute of Agricultural Research | 2024-06-03 |
More Crops
Importation Regulatory Snapshot for
GM Food, Feed, or for Processing
$10,000
Within 180 days
Labelling, monitoring and stewardship.
YES – Approvals from at least 5 other countries are considered
5% labelling threshold; No LLP policy
Application Process for GM FFP
Import Permit
- The application both online and paper-based with acknowledgement of receipt within 7 days of submission of the application in the prescribed form and screening for completeness is done within 60 days.
- Application form submitted must be completed and signed by the designated Authority. Available safety assessment reports for the countries where approval have been given must also be submitted. Contingency plan in any case of unintended release must be attached.
- Once application has been received the Authority publish in the Gazette within 14 days giving notice to the General public of the application.
- The TAC reviews and carry out risk assessment before the decision is reached by the Board within 180 days after receipt of the application.
- In reaching a final decision on the application, the Board of the NBA takes into account the information submitted by the applicant and the risk assessment report from the TAC.
- The Board communicates its final decision to the applicant within 180 days after receipt of the application.
- Applicants are required to provide the information requested in Regulation 14 of LI 2383.
- The sum of $10,000 is paid for the application.
- An approval comes with specific terms and conditions which may include labelling, monitoring, stewardship etc requirements. These terms and conditions are specific to each application.
- The decisions of the application made by the board are officially published in the government gazette and regularly published on the Biosafety Clearing House.
- Approval is valid for 3 years.
Maize
| Approval | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval | Trade Name | Event Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFP | Insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize | Syngenta South Africa (Pty), Ltd | 11 Oct 2024 | MZIR098 | SYN-ØØØ98-3 |
| FFP | Insect resistant maize | Syngenta Seeds GmbH | 11 Oct 2024 | Agrisure® Duracade™ Maize | SYN-Ø53Ø7-1 |
| FFP | Insect-resistant and herbicide tolerant maize | Syngenta South Africa (Pty), Ltd | 11 Oct 2024 | YieldGard™ maize | SYN-BTØ11-1 |
| FFP | Insect resistant maize | Syngenta Crop Protection AG | 11 Oct 2024 | Agrisure™ Viptera maize | SYN-IR162-4 |
| FFP | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Roundup Ready™ maize | MON-ØØ6Ø3-6 |
| FFP | Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | YieldGard™ VT™ Rootworm/RR2™ Maize | MON-88Ø17-3 |
| FFP | Herbicide tolerance and insect resistance | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Maize modified for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance | MON-87411-9 |
| FFP | Tolerance to abiotic stress | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Droughtgard™ Maize | MON-8746Ø-4 |
| FFP | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Maize modified for tissue selective glyphosate tolerance | MON-87427-7 |
| FFP | Insect resistant maize | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | YieldGard™ maize | MON-ØØ81Ø-6 |
| FFP | Tolerance to glyphosate | Syngenta South Africa (Pty), Ltd (SSAL) | 15 Feb 2024 | Roundup Ready™ maize | MON-ØØØ21-9 |
| FFP | Insect resistant maize | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | YieldGard™ VT Pro™ | MON-89Ø34-3 |
| FFP | Tolerance to glufosinate | BASF South Africa | 30 Jun 2022 | Liberty Link™ maize | ACS-ZMØØ3-2 |
Soybean
| Approval | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval | Trade Name | Event Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFP | Tolerance to glufosinate | BASF South Africa | 30 Jun 2022 | Liberty Link™ soybean | ACS-GMØØ6-4 |
| FFP | Herbicide-tolerant soybean | BASF South Africa | 30 Jun 2022 | Herbicide-tolerant soybean | ACS-GMØØ5-3 |
| FFP | Insect resistant soybean | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Insect resistant soybean | MON-87751-7 |
| FFP | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Roundup Ready2Yield™ soybean | MON-89788-1 |
| FFP | Dicamba tolerant soybean | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Dicamba Tolerant Soybean | MON-877Ø8-9 |
| FFP | Changes in quality and/or metabolite content (Lipid and fatty acids) | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Vistive Gold™ Soybean | MON-877Ø5-6 |
| FFP | Changes in quality and/or metabolite content (Lipid and fatty acids)Resistance to herbicides (Glyphosate) | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Vistive Gold™ Soybean | MON-877Ø5-6 |
| FFP | Tolerance to glyphosate | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Roundup Ready™ soybean | MON-Ø4Ø32-6 |
| FFP | Insect resistant soybean | Bayer West-Central Africa S.A | 15 Feb 2024 | Insect resistant soybean | MON-877Ø1-2 |
Cowpea
| Approval | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval | Trade Name | Event Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment | Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | AATF and Institute of Agricultural Research | 03 Jun 2024 | Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | AAT-7Ø9AA-4 |
| LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment | Maruca-resistant cowpea | Donald Danforth Plant Science Center | 03 Jun 2024 | Maruca-resistant cowpea | DPS-Ø85Ø1-8 |
| LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment | Insect resistant cowpea | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute | 31 Oct 2023 | Cowpea resistant to maruca pod borer | AAT-7Ø9AA-4 × AAT-Ø245F-3 |
| LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment | Bruchids resistant cowpea | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute | 21 Jun 2023 | Bruchids-resistant cowpea | N/A |
| LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment | Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute | 30 Jun 2022 | Pod Borer-resistant cowpea | AAT-7Ø9AA-4 |
Cotton
| Approval | Traits | Developer | Date of Approval | Trade Name | Event Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment | Insect resistant, herbicide tolerant cotton | Monsanto | 11 Jun 2014 | Insect resistant, Herbicide tolerant Cotton | MON-15985-7 × MON-887Ø1-3 × MON-88913-8 |
Biosafety Laws, Regulations & Guidelines
Has Biosafety Laws?
Title of Biosafety Law
Year of Enactment
National Competent Authority
Application Procedure
Country Status
Has Biosafety Laws?
Yes
Title of Biosafety Law
BIOSAFETY ACT, 2011 (Act 831)
Year of Enactment
2012
National Competent Authority
National Biosafety Agency
Agence Nationale de Biosécurité (ANB)
Website: https://anb.bf/
Application Procedure
Ghana’s Biosafety Act provides rules governing the transfer, handling and use of GMOs. The Act establishes the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and defines its functions and powers. It also establishes an Appeals Tribunal and provides with respect to inspections. The Act provided that: – NBA shall make decisions on applications for contained use of GMOs, introduction into the environment, or for importation, placing on the market or export. Risk assessment shall be carried out by the Board of the Authority on the advice of a Technical Committee and in accordance with Schedule 4. Regulatory agencies shall control activities of applicants in accordance with Schedule 5. The Act is supported by an implementing regulations -Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (L.I 2383).
Country Status
GM Commercial Crops
Navigate & Discover Everything About GMOs
Langauge
Yes
Does the country plant GM crops?
2012
Since
No. of GM Crops Species
