US embassy cable - 05ACCRA110

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, Funding Initiatives 
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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