The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), is hosting a regional training in Accra on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) for conducting supervised field trials of crops.
The two-week training, which began last Monday, aims to enhance the continent’s technical capacity to generate credible scientific data on pesticide residues in crops to improve food safety standards. This is essential for establishing Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), crucial for protecting consumer health and promoting international trade.
The training is funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under its Technical Cooperation Programme. It forms part of the regional project RAF5091, “Enhancing Human and Analytical Capacities for Food Safety Standards.”
Scientists drawn from 18 African countries are participating in the training. They include Ghana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The rest are Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, and Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the opening, the Technical Officer for the IAEA project, Mr. James Sasanya, expressed gratitude to the Government of Ghana, GAEC, and GSA for hosting the training.
He noted that the IAEA’s support to African countries under the project is aimed at helping generate accurate and reliable data that informs international food safety standards.
“Without scientific data, standards can become technical trade barriers. Countries that do not participate in data generation risk being sidelined in decisions that affect their food systems and economies,” he said.
Mr Sasanya called for stronger commitment to good laboratory practices, regional partnerships, and collaboration with nation states that have made significant progress in data-driven food safety systems.
He explained that the IAEA’s four-year food safety project, launched in 2024, supports training in areas including pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, mycotoxins, and toxic metals.
Mr. Sasanya acknowledged key partnerships with the Minor Use Foundation, among others, and stressed the importance of institutional support and the nomination of suitable participants to maximise project outcomes.
He further noted that the project offers assistance in human capacity development and procurement of specialised equipment and laboratory supplies to help the region generate relevant data.
The Director-General of GAEC, Professor Samuel Boakye Dampare, in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Schools at GAEC, Professor Joseph Richmond Fianko, said that Ghana was honoured to host scientists from across the continent for such an important initiative.
He underscored the need for harmonised food safety standards across Africa, stressing that such alignment was essential for the continent to remain competitive in global trade.
“We must work together to ensure that the continent develops systems that meet international requirements,” he said.
Prof. Dampare wished the participants a productive and rewarding training experience.
The Director-General of the GSA, Professor Alex Dodoo, also urged African scientists to play a more active role in shaping national and regional policy.
He encouraged them to go beyond academic research and actively advocate for science-based standards, stating:
“Scientists must speak up, shape policies, and not operate only within the confines of research journals.”
“In today’s transactional world, where multilateralism is giving way to national interest, scientific evidence and strategic communication are more important than ever. We must emulate countries like India, which over the past 30 years have prioritised self-reliance and scientific development,” he added.
The training is expected to foster stronger regional cooperation and empower African nations to play a more influential role in shaping global food safety standards. The collaborative engagement of participating countries underscores a shared commitment to building a resilient, science-driven regulatory framework across the continent.
