Former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Convener of AriseGhana, Bernard Mornah, has asked the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana to stop deceiving Ghanaians regarding the release of the first genetically modified organism (GMO) crop for commercial cultivation in the country.

His argument comes after the initiation of pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute to be developed in the country.

Following the launch of the PBR cowpea at Nyankpala in the Northern Region on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of Agribusiness Ghana, Anthony Morrison, explained the need to implement the initiative, said the GMO seedlings reduce the use of agrochemicals and are harmless to humans’ health.

“GMO seeds reduce the use of agrochemicals and fertilizers. There are no known side effects of GMOs, and there are no known cases of people who have consumed GMO foods. Generally, GMOs are safer,” he said on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning show on Monday, July 29.

However, Mr Mornah argued that GMOs are accompanied by hugely harmful elements to the human system.

He asked the Chamber of Agribusiness to focus on promoting their products and stop deceiving the citizenry because they are not health experts to determine the seeds’ impact on people’s lives.

“How on earth can somebody say that there are no known side effects of chemicalized foods? How is that possible? Without any scientific thing, you can see. Off late, we buy watermelon, put it down, and you see that some foam starts to come out of it. You think that it’s not toxic, and when that toxic substance is consumed, you think it will not have an effect on you?

"It was so in the past, and you think that there is nothing wrong with that? You put fruit down, and it cannot survive for the next two days. You tell us that there are no side effects, but you can see. So therefore, GMOs have massive side effects on all of us.”

“You’re specialised to market your agriproduce, and you’re looking at how to increase your crop yields so that you can get more money. Concentrate on that, but don’t come and tell us that GMOs have no side effects. Then it means that GMOs have no benefits as well,” he said.

Mr Mornah said if that were not the case, health experts would not encourage people to eat organic foods if they want to live healthy.