2nd African Genetic Biocontrol Congress in Accra, Ghana
The 2nd Global Congress on New and Emerging Genetic Biocontrol Technologies took place in Accra, Ghana, from March 17 to 20, 2025. The event brought together experts in science and science communication.
Organized by the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium in partnership with Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority, participants engaged in discussions to contribute to groundbreaking scientific advancements to improve health in Africa.
The African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium provides a platform for interaction among African experts and institutions to enhance opportunities for technical capacity strengthening, knowledge exchange, and deliberation about the challenges and opportunities of genetic biocontrol technologies for the public good, which will strengthen African influence on their development and provide critical input for decision-making by product developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
This year, over 150 African national and international professionals attended the congress. They were represented by scientific institutions, academia, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology researchers, development and clinical organizations, biosafety authorities, and science communicators. Together, they brainstormed on new and emerging genetic biocontrol technologies that can tackle vector-borne diseases such as malaria, and how to communicate scientific information to the understanding of people from all walks of life.
There were two full days of intensive pre-conference workshops and two full days of presentations and panel discussions. Topics covered included but were not limited to genetics and genetic engineering tools, public health, agriculture, conservation, livestock, and wildlife health, Approaches and disease-carrying insects, Biosafety, Biosecurity and Biocontainment, and one health. There were discussions on training and capacity building, policy and regulation of genetic science, stakeholder and public engagement, risk assessment, and science communication among others.
There was a reasonable Target Malaria presence at the congress, Prof. Austin Burt, Dr. Charles Mugoya, the Regulatory Affairs Manager for Africa, and Dr. Jonathan Kayondo, the Principal Investigator for Target Malaria Uganda. Also present were Dr. Fred Aboagye-Antwi (Target Malaria Ghana) a member of the Local Organizing Committee, Thomas Gyimah, who completed his PhD on the Target Malaria Ghana project, Bernard Adjei Adams, Eva Ofori, Naana A. Acquaah, Jovid Okine and Samuel Annie-Amoah, Edem Aku Kwamoa, Uriah Karikari, and Jacqueline Akuamoah Aidoo, all from the Mosquito Ecology Research Facility, University of Ghana (Target Malaria Ghana).
