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PEASANT FARMERS Association of Ghana and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are calling on Parliament to halt the passage of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Plant Breeders� Bill (PBB), since majority of Ghanaians, especially farmers, are not well informed about its impact. A couple of days ago, the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs also issued a statement kicking against the passage of the bill. According to the groups, the PBB, which is at a consideration stage at the House of law makers, when passed, will give advantage to multinational seed and chemical companies to control the country�s growing seed market. The group raised the concern at a day�s media workshop on Genetically Modified Organisms and Plant Breeders� Bill, organized by Action Aid and Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisation Development (CIKOD) and Star-Ghana in Accra on Wednesday, this week. The organizations, which views centered around economic, political, legal, health, cultural, and religion, said: �farmers� rights should be mentioned in the Bill to balance the rights�. A CIKOD facilitator, Mr. Bern Guri, addressing the media, indicated that their appeal for Parliament to halt the passage of the bill was as a result of consultation held with citizens across the country, that government must first address problems associated with the agriculture sector. The problems mentioned were poor road network, lack of storage facilities, accessible markets, a limited agriculture extension officers and industries, to process farm harvests among others. He said peasant farmers are not in support of the policy because, the PBB in its current state would have negative implication on farmers and Ghanaians as a whole, questioning: �The agriculture sector in Ghana comprises of crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries; why a bill in one but not in the others�. Major concerns expressed by organizations consulted, according to Guri, are that the GMOs seed would make Ghanaian farmers dependent on foreign corporations for seeds, saying �small farmers will lose the right to freely use, select, share and sell seed. Accepting GMOs will amount to re-colonization of the Ghanaian economy. �Legally, when the bill is passed, government would not have legal authority over any seed production and marketing firms which deal in improved seed varieties in the country. �Health wise, it states several animal studies have proved serious health risks associated with GM foods which include infertility, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, changes in major organs and gastro intestinal system and immune problems�, he noted. The association argued that though they were in support of science findings, side effects of GMOs has yet not been made known. �In every scientific research there is always a margin of at least 5 per cent error, in the case of GMOs the 5% error has never been explained and the implications to food and health�. Background of GMOs The Bio Safety Act 2011 specifically allowed for the introduction of GMOs into Ghana. It was passed without consultation with the public. The PBB is a legal tool that gives plant breeders, mostly multination companies right over Ghana�s farmers and the law.