Ghana Scientists Save 81 Rare Crops in New Gene Bank

Deep in Ghana's Eastern Region, scientists are winning a race against time to save plants that exist nowhere else on Earth.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute has established a three-acre gene bank at Bunso. This living library protects endangered tree species like Odum, Wawa, and Mahogany collected from across Ghana's ecological zones.

"We are losing a lot of our plant genetic resources, especially the indigenous ones," says Dr. Edmund Owusu, Senior Research Scientist at the institute. He describes finding himself collecting species just days before bulldozers arrive to clear land.

Ghana sits within the Guinean Forest biodiversity hotspot, one of the world's most important ecosystems. But illegal mining, deforestation, and climate change are destroying it faster than conservationists can restore it.

The numbers tell a sobering story. About 146 forest tree species now appear on threatened lists. Some have become so rare that only a few young trees survive in the wild.

Dr. Owusu uses a powerful analogy to explain why genetic diversity matters. "If all of us are taken out and replaced with only progeny of one person, the world will not be the same," he says. "We need this diversity to keep us in check and to keep the world moving."

The Ripple Effect

The rescue mission extends beyond trees. Dr. Matilda Bissah and her team manage the Ghana National Genebank, which now conserves 81 out of 101 globally important opportunity crops. These neglected species include Bambara groundnuts, indigenous leafy vegetables, and taro.

These forgotten foods could help communities facing hunger and climate challenges. "We need to promote them, we need to get people to utilise them for food, medicine and income generation," Dr. Bissah explains.

The conservation work is already bearing fruit. Between 2024 and 2025, nearly 2,893 hectares of degraded land were restored through the Nature-Based Climate Adaptation project. Another 2,000 hectares are targeted for restoration this year using agroforestry and community-based approaches.

The gene bank serves a crucial long-term purpose. When the preserved trees mature, they will provide seeds for future restoration projects across Ghana. This genetic diversity will help create forests strong enough to withstand disease, pests, and climate changes.

Project partners are now working to spread awareness beyond the scientific community. The World University Service of Canada has partnered with the institute to help journalists understand and share these conservation stories.

These seed banks represent more than scientific collections. They're insurance policies for Ghana's food security, medicines, and climate resilience for generations not yet born.