Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, emphasized the need for Ghana to strengthen its biosafety regulatory system, making it clearer and more predictable to attract investment and accelerate biotechnology sector development. She made these remarks at the launch of the 2027 Biosafety and Biotechnology Expo in Accra, organized by the National Biosafety Authority. The event's theme was "Biosafety Regulation as a Catalyst for Biotechnology Investment in Ghana."
The Minister highlighted that while regulation is essential for safeguarding human health and the environment, uncertainty surrounding regulatory responsibilities and processes can discourage investors and slow the commercialization of scientific innovations. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings noted that modern biotechnology is transforming various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, industry, and environmental management, creating opportunities for improved crop productivity, vaccine development, and innovative treatments.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that Ghana's focus should shift from generating scientific knowledge to translating research into technologies, enterprises, jobs, and practical solutions that improve citizens' lives. She mentioned that Ghana's ambition to become a hub for vaccine development and manufacturing in Africa makes regulatory preparedness crucial. The establishment of the National Vaccine Institute under the National Vaccine Institute Act, 2023, provides a foundation for building national capacity for vaccine research, development, and local manufacturing.
The Minister identified five priorities for Ghana's biotechnology sector: ensuring the regulatory framework keeps pace with scientific advancements, institutionalizing coordination among agencies, investing in regulatory capacity, building public confidence, and developing a visible pipeline of investment opportunities. She encouraged young scientists to use the proposed BBExpo as a platform to showcase their research, ideas, and technologies.
Mr. Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere, CEO of the National Biosafety Authority, announced that the maiden BBExpo would take place in Accra in October 2027. The two-day event will bring together regulators, researchers, industry players, students, farmers, and the public to explore modern biotechnology applications. Despite the Authority's efforts in laboratory and Institutional Biosafety Committee certifications, risk assessments, and monitoring of confined field trials, awareness of biosafety regulations remains low among the public and some institutions and industries.
The BBExpo aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to engage openly on biotechnology and regulation, with the first day dedicated to professionals, regulators, and industry, and the second day open to the general public. Mr. Asamoah-Okyere called on regulators, researchers, industry, development partners, and the media to support the initiative, urging the public to use the Expo to ask questions and demand accountability.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings assured investors of the government's commitment to creating a regulatory environment with clear requirements and coordinated processes. She emphasized that an investor should not have to navigate the government structure before understanding how to establish and operate a biotechnology enterprise, and that institutions must work together to provide a coherent and predictable process.
Key points
- Ghana must strengthen its biosafety regulatory system to attract investment and accelerate biotechnology sector development.
- The 2027 Biosafety and Biotechnology Expo aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to engage on biotechnology and regulation.
- Ghana's ambition to become a hub for vaccine development and manufacturing in Africa makes regulatory preparedness crucial.
