CPP UK & Ireland’s petition against GMO bills

A delegation of members of the Convention People’s Party UK & Ireland as well as concerned Ghanaian citizens delivered a petition for H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, to H.E. Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo High Commissioner of Ghana at 13 Belgrave Square, London, on Tuesday 6th November 2013.

The petition urged President Mahama to put a moratorium on the signing of GMO-associated Bills, namely the Plant Breeders Bill and UPOV 91.

The petition stressed that the following are at stake: · Our health and survival as a people. · The sovereignty of our nation. · Our food security and self-reliance. · Our loss of control over our land and resources.

It further reiterated that worldwide, there are many controversies over the safety and viability of GMOs, yet there has been no consultation or debate in Ghana about this hazard to all of us. We are not against the appliance of science and technology for increasing our food security, but that does not mean wholesale acceptance of GMOs which are based on obsolete and unfounded claims of “improved seeds” and “increased yields”. Indeed, they have been proved to cause: · Infertility · Immune dysregulation · Accelerated ageing · Dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation and cell signaling and protein formation. · Changes in liver, kidney, spleen and other gastrointestinal organs

Apart from the health consequences listed above, the only beneficiaries of GMOs in our food chain are agribusiness companies led by Monsanto. Their gain will lead to seed poverty for our local farmers, who will be locked into unjust contracts to buy seeds only from these companies every season, in addition to ever-increasing application of toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers they will be forced to buy from the same companies.

Even the UN and its various agriculture agencies have confirmed that world hunger is not due to lack of food production, but caused by inefficiencies in finance, storage and distribution, and corruption.

Mr. President, we urge you not to sign any laws that will benefit corporate greed and lead to the loss of our ability to grow and feed ourselves, and generate wealth. Remember, we also have a sacred duty to manage Ghana’s rich biodiversity and leave it as a legacy to future generations.

The High Commissioner accepted the petition and assured the delegation that it will be forwarded to the President and he will inform them of the latter’s response.

The delegation thanked him for receiving them and he thanked them for coming.

Signed

Nana Yaw Buobu Addae-Aboagye

Director of Communication

CPP UK & IRELAND

info@cppuk.org

www.conventionpeoplesparty.org

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