Following the inauguration of its National Biosafety Authority, Ghana has resumed the approval process for GM cowpea (SAMPEA 20-T). Cowpea is becoming increasingly crop in Ghana, whilst there has been a sharp increase in trading price since the start of 2021 as a result of pest pressure and crop damage.

GM cowpea was first planted in Nigeria in 2021 (see AgbioNews Sep 13, 2021) and has quickly been adopted to the point where there has been shortages of the technology (AgbioNews Oct 5, 2021). GM cowpea is the product of an international partnership under the coordination of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) that included scientists from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The product utilises the AAT709A genetic event to produce the Cry1Ab insecticidal protein, which is able to control lepidopteran pests such as the Bean pod borer (Maruca vitrata).