MFWA Forum Addresses Agrochemical Misuse, Food Safety in Ghana
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) held a forum in Tamale, Ghana, to address agrochemical misuse and its impact on food safety. Experts highlighted threats to public health, the environment, and food security due due to excessive, unapproved chemical use and unsafe farming practices. The event aimed to equip media with accurate reporting skills on agricultural issues, emphasizing the need for responsible communication and collaboration among stakeholders to enhance public awareness and promote safer food production.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) convened a public forum in Tamale, Ghana, focusing on the critical issue of agrochemical misuse and its profound implications for food safety. Titled “The Media and Food Safety: Enhancing Public Awareness on Agrochemical Use in Ghana,” the event brought together media practitioners, scientists, farmers, and regulators. Dr. Kwame Sarpong Appiah of the University of Ghana delivered a keynote, underscoring the severe threats posed by the overuse and misuse of pesticides and fertilizers to public health, the environment, and national food security. He cited research indicating excessive application rates, the prevalence of unapproved chemicals, and pesticide residues found in food items across the country, often exceeding international safety limits and linking to serious health conditions like neurological disorders and cancer. Dr. Appiah also highlighted farmer symptoms from lack of protective gear and identified drivers of misuse as insufficient training, ignorance, and unsafe spraying practices. He urged journalists to prioritize accuracy and responsible communication, invest in specialized science reporting, and foster dialogue. MFWA Executive Director Sulemana Braimah emphasized the forum’s goal to equip media with knowledge for ethical reporting. Other discussions pointed to the influx of illegal agrochemicals and low literacy levels as exacerbating factors, calling for stronger stakeholder collaboration and improved communication between scientists and journalists to promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance food safety awareness nationwide.
