SENSITISATION WORKSHOP ON THE NAGOYA PROTOCOL HELD 9th AUGUST, 2022
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| Dr. Kwaku Afriyie [in green smock] MESTI Minister |
Initially adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at its 10th meeting on 29th October, 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing is an international treaty that builds on and supports the implementation of the CBD, with particular focus on one of its three objectives; the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.
The Nagoya Protocol is therefore accepted as a landmark agreement in the international governance of biodiversity and is relevant for a variety of commercial and non-commercial sectors involved in the use and exchange of genetic resources among countries that signed on to it. Dr. Afriyie stated “in times past, a lot of countries in the tropical world which are endowed with lots of flora and fauna lost out on these resources as some persons and other selfish interest groups, made huge gains through genetic manipulations from the originals and that, these were the sort of things the Nagoya Protocol seeks to rectify among other concerns”.
He further observed that in the case of Ghana, “majority of these genetic resources had been handed down to us by our great grand forbearers through the millennia via oral tradition regarding their uses such as medicinal and other purposes but that sadly, through ignorance we allow these slip into foreign hands without us benefiting duly”. He was hopeful that with the introduction of the Focal Point and Competent National Authorities, all stakeholders and responsible institutions of state as well as the citizenry, will be vigilant and play their parts effectively so that the whole regime about the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of these genetic resources, does not place Ghana at a disadvantage.
The Chairman of the National Biodiversity Steering Committee Prof. Alfred Apau Oteng-Yeboah in his
presentation earlier on the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Objectives, observed that the concept of biodiversity and
relative issues have received a lot of attention on the airwaves already but that even more needs to be done. He noted that over the
years, every 22nd May is used to celebrate the International Biological
Diversity Day so as to bring to the fore, the relevance of nature and its
resources to the Ghanaian public and the world at large. He observed that, the
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefits Sharing does not stand alone but it’s
actually hinged on the Convention on Biological Diversity and its
deliberations. He thus urged all stakeholders to work in concert and in
coordination to provide the kind of services that will ensure that, the Nagoya
Protocol is properly domesticated in Ghana. 
Cross Section of Stakeholders at the workshop
Giving a background, Prof. Oteng-Yeboah disclosed that the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity was one of the three agreements which emanated from discussions from 1987 through to 1991 when governments through their people, observed that there were so many crises on the environment resulting mainly from human activities such as climate change and land degradation leading to depletion of soil resources. He remarked; “biodiversity resources as a result, were being lost at speeds faster than it could be arrested”.
Consequently, Agenda 21 deliberations came up later in Brazil during the UN’s meeting on environment and development to seek sustainable solutions to these negative effects on biodiversity and the environment in general. This then gave birth to three Conventions namely; the Climate Change Convention, the Desertification Convention and the Biodiversity Convention. Following this was the entry of signatures agreeing to the adoption of the Biodiversity Convention and representatives of some 136 countries, including Ghana did append their signatures for adoption and implementation. According to the Prof., a minimum of 50 countries ratifying a convention gives it the green light to roll out and that luckily enough, the ratification for the biodiversity convention was rapid.
Prof. Oteng-Yeboah disclosed that the Biodiversity Convention has three major objectives including the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of biological diversity and equity in the sharing of benefits that arise from use of genetic resources. He added that the Convention has a governance structure known as the Conference of Parties that meets at appropriate times for deliberations and for decisions to be taken. The decisions so-taken are binding on all members because these are usually arrived at by a consensus but not voting.
Responding to questions from participants, the Prof. said any person or entity venturing into plant research and herbal production for instance, will have to first receive clearance or certification relating to efficacy, toxicity and other vital variables before production and sale.
An officer from the National Biosafety Authority Mr. Eric Okoree who also facilitated the workshop, touched on the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefits Sharing. He said per the articles of the Protocol, each party shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures as appropriate, with the aim to ensuring that benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources that are held by indigenous and local communities are shared in a fair and equitable way with the communities concerned in accordance with domestic legislation and based on mutually agreed terms.
Participants at the sensitisation forum included the Chief Director of MESTI, Mrs. Cynthia Asare Bediako and some of her directors, some selected media houses, officers from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Development Planning Commission, Representatives from the Forestry Commission and the Noguchi Medical Research Institutes among others.
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