By: Baba Mohammed Issahak
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science, and Technology is calling for increased funding and support for two key environmental agencies, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the National Biosafety Authority (NBA).
Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Manso Adubia, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, stressed the need for greater investment in the agencies, citing their critical roles in safeguarding the environment and public health. He noted that the National Biosafety Authority is currently understaffed, especially in the area of scientific expertise, and urged the Authority to explore innovative ways of boosting its Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
โIt is clear the NBA is doing important work, but they are constrained by a lack of scientists. We must support them with the right resources to function effectively,โ Hon. Frimpong Addo said.
The Ranking Member of the Committee, Hon. Hamza Adam, also emphasized the growing threat of unregulated genetically modified foods on the market. He underscored the importance of the NBA in monitoring food safety and called for stronger regulatory mechanisms.
At the meeting, the EPA Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, highlighted the Authorityโs campaign to raise awareness about antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. She called on pharmaceutical companies to play their part by producing the right medications to combat the threat. She also advocated for better waste segregation practices to help curb plastic pollution.
Meanwhile, at the NBA, CEO Mr Kwame Dei Asamoah Okyere expressed concern over the sale of unapproved genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the Ghanaian market. He outlined steps the Authority is taking to address the issue but admitted that limited resources and legal constraints remain significant obstacles.
The Committee assured both institutions of its commitment to advocate for the necessary resources and legislative reforms to strengthen their operations.
