NBA CEO VISITS CSIR-CRI TO DEEPEN COLLABORATION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY
The CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) on Friday, 16th May 2025, welcomed a delegation from the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), led by its newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere. The visit forms part of NBA’s broader initiative to assess and strengthen institutional capabilities in biotechnology across the country.
Mr. Asamoah-Okyere was accompanied by two senior officers from the Authority, Mr. Kwasi Anderson and Mr. Leeford Oko Winstbery. They were received by Dr. Charles Afriyie-Debrah, Senior Research Scientist and Biosafety Officer, and Mr. Emmanuel Afriyie, Administrative Officer of CSIR-CRI. The team was taken on a tour of the Institute’s Biotechnology Laboratory Complex, which includes the Molecular Biology and Tissue Culture Laboratories.
At the Molecular Biology Laboratory, the delegation was briefed on the Institute’s capacity for GMO detection and broader molecular biology work supporting diagnostics, quality assurance, and crop improvement. At the Tissue Culture Laboratory, they observed ongoing activities in the multiplication, cleaning, and conservation of plant materials for crops such as cassava, yam, plantain, and sweet potato.
In a meeting with the Director of CSIR-CRI, Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, discussions focused on strengthening institutional partnerships for research, testing, and biosafety oversight. Prof. Asante affirmed CSIR-CRI’s readiness to collaborate with NBA and revealed that the Institute is equipped to offer its laboratories and expertise for GMO testing and a wide range of biotechnology services. He also highlighted the Institute’s collaboration with the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) on the development of genome-edited rice.
Both institutions pledged to continue working together to promote the safe and innovative application of biotechnology in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
