Biosafety
and Biotechnology in Ghana: Journalists and Scientists must work as partners in
development
By Mawutodzi Kodzo
Abissath
The wisdom of our
ancestors is reflected in this simple proverb that says: “One tree does not make a forest!”
Do know why the Master
Jesus Christ constituted a group of people known as his disciples before
embarking on his earthly mission about 2000 years ago? And out of the twelve
apostles four of them could be characterized in modern parlance as journalists
or reporters. They were John, Luke, Mark and Matthew. Thus the gospel in the
Bible can be said to be the reportage of these disciples.
Value
of reporters
Since that time, and
all over the world, without reporters hardly could some official activities of Kings,
Governors, Presidents, or Heads of State, or Prime Ministers, or Chief
Executive Officers etc. have been known to the general public, let alone the future
generations. That is why journalism is referred to as the first draft of
history. In fact, some historians just collate and collect what journalists had
published in the past and modify them to be called history. That explains why
journalists or reporters must not be taken for granted in the scheme of things.
And any world leader who neglects reporters does so at his or her own doom.
On Saturday, September
5, 2015, Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation made
history that must be put on record for posterity. On that day, that Ministry
managed to uproot over 20 editors from various media houses where they were
glued to their editorial thrones in newsrooms in Accra. At least for 24 hours
the editors were transplanted at the Multi-functional Conference Centre at the Aqua
Safari Resort at Ada in the Great Accra Region.
What was fascinating
about that feat was the fact that the Ministry brought these veteran editors
face to face with some Ghanaian and Burkinabe scientists who were also dragged
out from their laboratories where their eyes were riveted to their microscopes.
These two diametrically opposed professionals and other stakeholders drawn from
the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and Food and Drug Authority (FDA) were
brought together under the banner of Editors Forum to brainstorm on issues of
Biosafety of modern Biotechnology.
Biodiversity
and Biosafety
For purposes of this
article, biodiversity simply signifies the variety of life on earth in all its
forms. Biotechnology is
not only applicable in the field of medicine but also in the field of
agriculture or food processing. Biosafety is the application of knowledge,
technique and equipment to prevent personal, laboratory and environmental
exposure to infectious agents. For now I do not want to use any complicated
scientific terminologies to confuse myself and my readers. So let me pause for
some breath!
The principal objective
of that special editors forum among other things was to provide the editors
with some practical, evidence-based information on biosafety; expose them to
some authoritative sources of information about biosafety with particular
reference to Genetically Modified (GM) crops with all the misconceptions and
misrepresentations associated biotechnology. Trust the journalists! And at this
forum, it was not novice reporters but editors who in their respective news
rooms have the power to decide whether stories written by their reports about GM
crops be it maize, fruits or beans should be published in the first place.
Naturally, when the
scientists finished with their presentations, they should expect these veteran
editors not to swallow hook, line and sinker everything they had presented. In
fact, the experts were virtually ambushed and were subjected to bombardment of
questions from all angles. One editor confessed that as for him whenever his
reporters submit some stories about genetically modified foods and he did not
understand, he did not hesitate to throw such stories in the dust bins. One
scientist also confessed that he did not trust some media personnel who were
wont to misrepresent scientific findings. Consequently, he always closed
his doors to reporters who nose around to know what he was doing in his
laboratory.
Gap
between Scientists and Journalists
The forum became a
genuine confessional corner as if it was
in the Catholic Cathedral where
everybody opened up to speak their minds and expressed their sentiments about
one another. So, while it appears some scientists have the tendency to look
down on journalists, some journalists also have no regard for some scientists
whom they consider as arrogant. This state of affair has created a gap between
scientists and journalists. But the forum became an eye opener for all.
No doubt one of the
topics discussed was: “The Science –
Media disconnect; Bridging the gap: “Scientists
say the media are sensational; the media say scientists talk gibberish; how can
we bridge the gap for impactful reportage on scientific issues?” This particular topic was moderated by a lady
journalist who did not mince words at all about how some scientists treat journalists
as non-entities. This session became so exciting that almost every editor
present was given the opportunity to express his or her view about this gap
between scientists and journalists and the way forward.
ECOWAS
Experience
This author also gave
his views and reminded the forum that the gap between scientists and
journalists is not only restricted to Ghana. He recalled that in 2011, ECOWAS
organized a training workshop for Science journalists in Abuja, Nigeria where
he served as a resource person. At that workshop, it came to light that there existed
poor relationship between scientists, research institutions and journalists.
It was noted that that poor
relationship tended to affect effective communication between scientists and
journalists. It was therefore, resolved
that only effectively communicated knowledge could benefit individuals and
equipped them with power and skills to put that knowledge into practical application
for the development not only West Africa but the entire African Continent.
Consequently an African
Federation of Science Journalists, (AFSJ), was set up to collaborate with UNESCO,
ECA, ECOWAS and AU for scientific and technological advancement of Africa using
journalists as conveyor belts.
Partners in development
It is against this background that Ghana’s Ministry of
Environment ought to be commended for initiating the editors forum to expose
these media gurus to the work of National Biosafety Authority. Media
practitioners do not necessarily need to be scientists to communicate science
related issues of national importance for the advancement of the nation. While
Scientists can do better scientific research works, Journalists too, can
communicate better for the understanding of the masses because they are trained
in mass communication. So, therefore, both Scientists and Journalists must work
as partners in development for the prosperity of Ghana.
·
The author works with Information
Services Department (ISD), Accra abissath@gmail.com
.