Zanetor calls for predictable regulations to boost Ghana’s biotech sector

Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for the establishment of a clear, coordinated and predictable regulatory system to support investment, research and innovation in Ghana’s biotechnology sector.

She said effective regulation was necessary to ensure that biotechnology developments were safe and responsibly managed, but cautioned that unclear procedures and uncertainty over institutional mandates could discourage investment and slow the growth of the sector.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call at the launch of the 2027 BBExpo, where she highlighted the need for an enabling regulatory environment that would allow biotechnology researchers, entrepreneurs and investors to operate with greater certainty.

According to the Minister, building a vibrant biotechnology ecosystem would require more than scientific expertise and financial investment. She said regulatory institutions must also work together to provide clarity and consistency for businesses and researchers.

She explained that investors need to know the requirements they are expected to meet, the institutions responsible for different stages of the regulatory process, the evidence and documentation required, and the timelines within which decisions are expected to be made.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the absence of such clarity could create unnecessary delays and increase the risks associated with investing in biotechnology-related ventures.

The Minister stressed that regulation should not be regarded simply as an obstacle to innovation, arguing that effective regulation could help create the conditions for responsible scientific and technological development.

“Regulation should not be viewed simply as a constraint on innovation. Good regulation enables responsible innovation. What discourages investment is not necessarily the existence of regulation but uncertainty,” she said.

She identified uncertainty over institutional responsibilities, evidentiary requirements, decision-making timelines and potentially conflicting guidance from different institutions as factors that could undermine investor confidence.

“A serious investor can’t prepare for stringent requirements. It is much more difficult to prepare for unclear and unpredictable regulatory processes,” she added.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said Ghana’s biosafety system must therefore provide researchers and enterprises with clear requirements and predictable processes.

Such a system, she noted, should give investors confidence that regulatory decisions are transparent, evidence-based and consistently applied, while also assuring the public that potential risks to human health and the environment are properly assessed, communicated and managed.

Her call forms part of the broader push to strengthen Ghana’s scientific research, innovation and technology ecosystem. The Minister has previously emphasised the need to move scientific research from laboratories into commercially viable applications and strengthen collaboration between research institutions, government and industry.