Professor Dittoh warns Ghana against GMO dependency trap in agriculture

A prominent agricultural economist has sounded an alarm over Ghana's potential shift towards genetically modified organisms in farming, arguing that the move threatens the nation's food security and farmers' independence. Professor Saa Dittoh, speaking at the sixth International Research Conference of the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) in Wa this week, cautioned against what he describes as a "subtle acceptance" of GMOs within Ghana's agricultural system.

The core of Prof. Dittoh's argument centres on a fundamental question: why should Ghana abandon proven, locally-adapted crop varieties for technologies that could create lasting dependence on external seed suppliers? He argues that existing crop varieties, with proper investment and research, can adequately address production challenges without the risks associated with genetically modified seeds.

The case for traditional varieties

Prof. Dittoh pointed to maize variety "Obatanpa" as a case study, asserting that no hybrid alternative has demonstrated clear superiority in yield. He emphasised the critical distinction between open-pollinated varieties—which farmers can save and replant season after season—and hybrid or genetically modified seeds that require farmers to purchase new seed stock annually.

This difference, he argues, is not merely technical but economic and political. When farmers depend on purchasing seeds from commercial producers each year, they lose control over their own production systems. Open-pollinated varieties represent genuine agricultural autonomy; hybrid systems represent dependence.

"Why are we leaving the open-pollinated seeds?" Prof. Dittoh asked rhetorically, highlighting what he sees as an inexplicable retreat from proven agricultural practices towards systems that benefit seed corporations rather than Ghanaian farmers.

Food security and control: Why it matters for Ghana

Beyond yield and profitability, Prof. Dittoh raises a more troubling concern: the weaponisation of food systems. If Ghana's agricultural production becomes concentrated in the hands of a few multinational seed producers, the nation loses control over a fundamental resource. He warns that such concentration of power over agricultural inputs could be leveraged as a tool of geopolitical control, turning food into an instrument of coercion rather than sustenance.

This argument resonates within Ghana's broader development context. The country has experienced periods of food insecurity, and agricultural self-sufficiency remains strategically important. A farming system where Ghanaian smallholder farmers cannot produce their own seeds is, by definition, a system vulnerable to external shocks and commercial manipulation.

Prof. Dittoh also criticises what he calls the "decolonisation" gap in Ghana's agricultural policy. Despite decades of independence, he argues, Ghana has not genuinely freed itself from external control of its agricultural direction. Commercial interests, he suggests, may be steering Ghana's agricultural choices in ways that benefit foreign corporations rather than local farmers and consumers.

Research gaps and funding challenges

The professor noted that scientific investigation into these concerns remains limited, partly due to inadequate research funding. Researchers capable of conducting independent studies into GMO risks and seed system implications may lack financial support, whilst institutions with funding interests aligned with GMO adoption may not prioritise critical examination of these technologies.

This creates a knowledge gap that works against informed policymaking. Without robust, independently-funded research into GMO implications for Ghana's specific agricultural context, decisions about seed adoption may be driven by commercial lobbying rather than scientific evidence or national interest.

Prof. Dittoh's warnings reflect broader global debates about agricultural development, but his framing emphasises Ghana's agency and autonomy. The question he poses is not whether GMOs work—it is whether they serve Ghana's interests and farmers' long-term wellbeing. As Ghana continues developing its agricultural sector, these questions deserve serious, well-funded investigation.