GHANA: REQUEST FOR FUNDS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY

UNCLAS ACCRA 000110

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EB/TPP/ABT/BTT DEBORAH MALAC AND JACK BOBO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO EAGR ECON BIOTECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT: GHANA: REQUEST FOR FUNDS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY
OUTREACH PROGRAMS

REF: A SECSTATE 244670 B 04 ACCRA 01543 C 03 ACCRA

02453


1. This cable, in response to Ref A, requests funds for FY 05
public diplomacy outreach projects related to agricultural
biotechnology. Post requests funding for upcoming workshops
to be undertaken in conjunction with USAID,s Program for
Biosafety Systems, the goal of which is to promote the
judicious use of modern agricultural biotechnology in order
to increase agricultural productivity. Post estimates a need
for approximately six workshops with six speakers in 2005, to
be more fully identified by USAID over the next several
months, at a cost of $39,500.

Background on Biotech in Ghana
--------------

2. Ghana is moving forward in developing policies and
legislation to regulate biotech (Ref B). In July 2004, Ghana
hosted a National Stakeholder Workshop to discuss the final
draft components of the National Biosafety Framework for
Ghana, which will form the basis of future biosafety
regulations. Ghana has since submitted the document to
UNEP/GEF, the first of 39 African countries to do so.


3. Ghana also submitted, at the end of 2004, a Biosafety bill
to the Minister of Environment; the bill will then be sent to
Parliament through the Attorney General,s Office. The Bill
establishes the National Biosafety Authority to process
applications relating to biotech substances under the Act.


4. Post discussions on biotech with Ghanaian scientists (Ref
C) indicate that while there is broad recognition of the
potential benefits biotech can offer, there is also a public
wariness about biotech and popular support for regulatory
precautions and Ghanaian scientist review of biotech.


5. Ghana is clearly moving forward on biosafety, but could
benefit from outreach that would support science-based
regulatory efforts and provide accurate information to the
broader public on the positive benefits of biotech. The US
message could best be disseminated by working through
USAID,s new program, the Program for Biosafety Systems
(PBS),which promotes the judicious use of modern
agricultural biotechnology in Ghana.

USAID,s Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS)
--------------

6. USAID will soon sign an agreement with the International
Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to undertake a
three-year program in Ghana--the Program for Biosafety
Systems (PBS)--designed to assist the Government of Ghana to
develop policies, training and details that will support
Ghana,s biosafety legislation. IFPRI will be the lead
institution but will cull expertise from other US-based
biotechnology research institutions to implement the PBS
program. PBS, funded through the U.S. Presidential Initiative
to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA),will complement an ongoing
regional biosafety and biotech program funded by USAID,s
West Africa Regional Program (WARP).


7. The purpose of the PBS program is to promote the judicious
use of modern agricultural biotechnology in Ghana in order to
increase agricultural productivity with linkages to regional
and global markets. As an initial priority, PBS will
facilitate establishment of policies and regulations that
enable the testing and use of approved bioengineered crops
and other organisms.


8. The overall objectives of the program are to establish an
enabling policy environment for the testing and use of
biotechnology products; strengthen skills and increase
capacity for near-term conduct of field trials and food
safety assessments; and develop and implement a strategic
plan for communications and outreach that engages diverse
stakeholders and the general public.

Target Audience
--------------

9. PBS will work primarily with the Biotechnology and Nuclear
Agriculture Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy
Commission (BNARI/GAEC). Other partner institutions and key
stakeholders, and people to whom we would target our message,
include the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, Environment,
Health, the universities, the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research, as well as additional public and private
sector groups.

Proposed Program
--------------

10. Post believes that it could significantly support PBS
objectives if experienced individuals were available to
participate in workshops or conferences that offered
exposure, experience and specialized instruction on PBS


priorities to our targeted partners and stakeholders, above.
Public outreach that supplemented PBS objectives would
bolster and strengthen U.S. efforts to support Ghana,s
judicious of biotech and would help introduce the potential
benefits of biotech to consumers. Through discussions with
USAID, Post envisions approximately six conference workshops
over the course of the year that would require six experts to
speak. Presenters should specifically focus on:

-- Biosafety policy, legal and regulatory development

-- Implementation of biosafety procedures at national and
institutional levels

-- Technical training in key skill areas of biosafety review
and regulatory oversight

-- Development of regulatory approval strategies to allow
field-testing of specific transgenic crop varieties

-- Development and implementation of a strategic plan for
communication and outreach activities.


11. Furthermore, it would be useful to host speakers or
facilitators who have experience working with international
trade protocols in developing countries and who have
knowledge of other international biosafety agreements
involving the U.S. and EU. Perhaps most importantly, Post
envisions hosting instructors on public awareness and
communication strategies in order to promote and build
broader understanding within civil society in general,
specifically targeting interest groups such as farmer
organizations, academic institutions, local and international
NGOs, and seed companies. USAID will have the lead in
identifying specific speakers.


12. As the PBS program evolves over the next year, Post
expects to move forward with ideas about specific
biotechnology applications in Ghana. Possible applications
for Ghana would include an insect-resistant cowpea now
underway in Nigeria; virus-resistant cassava; and,
insect-resistant cotton, which is now being tested in Burkina
Faso and will soon be tested in Mali.

Costs
--------------

13. For each speaker from the US, with one week in Ghana, we
estimate the following costs:

--Per Diem at USD 54 per day
--Lodging at USD 102 per day
--Salary at USD 400 per day
for a total of USD 556 per day per speaker

--Each speaker would stay an estimated six days; at USD 556
per day, this would be USD 3,336 per speaker. Additionally,
with the roundtrip airfare at approximately USD 2,500, the
total for each speaker cost would be approximately USD 5,836.

--To host six speakers throughout the year (at USD 5,836
each) would be USD 35,000.


14. Additionally, the costs for a one-day conference
workshop, (including hotel conference facility, coffee, and
lunch) for approximately 25 people are estimated at USD 750.
For 6 workshops, this cost would be USD 4,500.


15. The combined costs of workshop speakers (USD 35,000) and
facilities (USD 4,500) for 6 workshops would be USD 39,500.
Post appreciates EB,s consideration of Post,s request for
funds to support the dissemination of accurate information on
biotech in Ghana.
YATES


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