Ghana risks losing the full value of its rich genetic resources without strong legal backing to enforce international agreements, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (CSIR-PGRRI) has cautioned.
Dr. Daniel Ashie Kotey, Director of CSIR-PGRRI, is urging government and Parliament to fast-track legislation to support the full implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, an international framework designed to regulate access to genetic resources and ensure fair sharing of benefits.
He explained that while Ghana has made progress administratively, the absence of a firm legal regime continues to limit the country’s ability to effectively protect and monetise its biological assets.
Dr. Kotey made the call at a stakeholder workshop in Accra aimed at deepening awareness and strengthening implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS).
The workshop brought together key institutions and stakeholders to promote understanding of the protocol and its relevance to national development and environmental sustainability.
According to Dr. Kotey, Ghana ratified the agreement in 2019, and in 2021 designated CSIR-PGRRI as the National Competent Authority and Focal Point responsible for overseeing its implementation.
Since then, he said, the institute has been working to ensure that Ghana maintains control over its genetic materials and benefits from their utilisation, particularly by foreign researchers and commercial entities.
He noted that genetic resources ranging from plant species to biological materials found in forests, farms and even households hold significant economic and scientific value that must be protected through proper systems of documentation and regulation.
Dr. Kotey emphasised that any transfer of such materials outside Ghana must follow strict procedures, including registration, inventory tracking and prior approval, to ensure the country retains its sovereign rights and secures due benefits.
“This is essential to ensure Ghana benefits from the use of its genetic resources and prevents exploitation without compensation,” he said.
He warned that increasing environmental threats such as biodiversity loss and climate change made the protection of genetic resources even more urgent.
Safeguarding these assets, he explained, would ensure that future generations retain the capacity to respond to ecological challenges and sustain agricultural productivity.
While acknowledging existing institutional frameworks, Dr. Kotey stressed that legislation was critical to empower regulatory bodies, strengthen enforcement and close existing loopholes.
He, therefore, appealed for the domestication of the Nagoya Protocol into national law to provide a robust legal foundation for implementation and long-term biodiversity protection.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Forson Djotor, Scientific Coordinator and Head of Secretariat of the Ghana Science Association, underscored the need for intensified public awareness and stronger state commitment.
He observed that knowledge of the Nagoya Protocol remained limited, even among professionals within the scientific community, which could undermine its effectiveness.
Mr. Djotor noted that broader education and outreach efforts were needed to help citizens understand the importance of protecting genetic resources and to encourage nationwide support for the initiative.
He further stressed that successful implementation would depend heavily on sustained government backing, including policy direction and adequate funding.
According to him, as a signatory to the protocol, government must demonstrate leadership by providing the necessary resources and institutional support to drive its implementation.
Mr. Djotor added that with the right legal and policy environment, Ghana could unlock significant economic, scientific and environmental benefits from its genetic resources while ensuring fairness and sustainability.
