Civil Society Group Food Sovereignty Ghana has served notice it will appeal a ruling by the Human Rights Court in Accra dismissing its application for injunction on the production and commercialisation of genetically modified foods in the country.

The group is before the court seeking a total ban on GM foods.

It accuses government of flouting provisions in the Biosafety Act 2011 by allowing the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to begin work on GM food production in Ghana.

The act says the National Biosafety Authority is the body mandated to give approval for all trials on GM foods.

But Food Sovereignty Ghana claims the ongoing trials of GM cowpea and rice had started before the establishment of the authority, making it illegal. Government however insists the trials are supported by a 1996 CSIR law.

Food Sovereignty Ghana also claims the trials are against international protocols on GM food production.

Even before the substantive case is heard, the injunction sought to stop the commercialization of GM cowpea and rice currently being undertaken by the CSIR.

But Justice Dennis Adjei in his ruling threw away the injunction application, saying granting it will hurt the process.

Head of the Food Microbiology Department of the Food Research Institute of the CSIR, Dr. Margaret Atikpo says the ruling means the ongoing plans to commercialise GM foods can go ahead.

“We are very, very happy. What it means is that they can continue with the scientific work, and at the right time, they can be released,” Dr. Atikpo told Joy News.

But Director of Communications of Food Sovereignty Ghana Edwin Baffuor tells Joy news they intend to appeal the judgment.

“It’s a disappointing decision. We are going to appeal it. All the way up to the Supreme Court,” he said.