MINISTRY MOVES TO ELIMINATE MALARIA (PAGE 3)

THE Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), are studying the possibility of using sterile insect technique for the control of mosquito population and the eventual elimination of malaria in the country.
This is due to the successful application of the sterile insect technique in the control of insect pests and vectors of disease in agriculture and health delivery in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Omane Boamah, who announced this, said the application of science and technology at all levels of society was key to the elimination of poverty and disease towards a sustainable wealth creation.
He said sterile insect technique for control of insect pests deserved special attention because of its potential of controlling mosquito population in the country.
Dr Boamah, who opened a five-day international workshop on safe operation of radiation processing facilities organised by GAEC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Accra, said despite the fact that the application of radiation processing technology would lead to the improvement of food security and healthcare delivery, it was yet to be exploited on a large scale, since it was an underutilised technology in the country.
The deputy minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by Prof. J. H. Amuasi, the Co-ordinator of School of Allied Sciences, challenged GAEC to speed up the transfer of the technology to the private sector for its maximum benefits, especially in the agro-processing and health and exports sectors, to be derived.
He said the transfer of the technology to the public domain ought to be done alongside the development and implementation of regulatory strategies and programmes that would ensure the safety and protection of workers, members of the public, properties and the environment.
Dr Boamah said his ministry recognised the pioneering role of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) in developing the national biosafety framework to regulate the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the country.
Prof. Josephine Nketsia-Tabiri, the Director of BNARI, who delivered the welcoming address, said the institute was in the process of upgrading its radiation processing facilities for agricultural, health and industrial research with funds of GH¢20,000 from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF).
She appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology to speed up the passing into law of the national biosafety regulatory framework to enable field trials to begin in the country for the development of high-yielding and disease-resistant seeds for farmers in the country.
She said because there was no law presently on biosafety, activities of farmers and importers of GMO products, especially with regard to safety standards, were going on unchecked.
Prof. Nketsia-Tabiri said with the promulgation of the law, researchers could undertake field trials to ascertain the effects of GMO seeds on the environment and measures required to control their impact on the environment, as well as their safety for the general public.