A Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of livestock, Dr. Hannah Bissiw has downplayed the assertion by some people that the President John Mahama led administration has been working clandestinely to accept the introduction of Genetically Modified Organic (GMO) foods into the country.
She was emphatic that government has not yet taken any decision on the GMO foods, but it was rather the Plant Breeder’s Bill that was put before Parliament for consideration.
According to her, the bill was suspended because most of the citizens were confused about the GMO issue.
The withdrawal of the Plant Breeders’ Bill from Parliament, she explained was to enable the state to solicit the necessary contributions from the general public about the GMO foods.
She said the citizens have their individual rights to determine what type of food to eat and that the government would not force anything on them.
“Government won’t force GMO foods on Ghanaians, because everyone has a preferred choice as to what kind of food to consume,” she stressed.
Dr. Bissiw who is also the Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency in the Brong Ahafo region was speaking with Kwame Tanko, the host of morning show programme on Angel FM; a Kumasi based private radio station.
She indicated that people have misconstrued the Plant Breeder’s Bill which was laid in Parliament some time ago with the GMOs, hence, its withdrawal from Parliament.
She said the Plant Breeder’s Bill would be re-laid before parliament after enough ideas have been gathered from the key stakeholders to serve the interest of the people.
The deputy minister who spoke on a lot of issues explained that the government was on course to delivering its social contract with the people.
The Cuban trained doctor revealed that a number of roads in her constituency including Derma –Asuoso have been awarded on contracts, while Bechem –Techimantia road and others have been put on tender.
She said the area has equally benefited from the construction of a number of roads under the Cocoa Road Project to enhance easy transportation of food items to the urban centers.
She pointed out that aside the roads that are being put in good shape, several communities whose school blocks were in the state of dilapidation have been replaced with better structures to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
<<Print>>