The Government of Ghana is set to collaborate with the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) to commercialize seed production, aiming to drive agricultural transformation and cut down food imports. This initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance food security and economic stability.
Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of the Presidential Initiative for Agriculture and Agribusiness, recently hosted a delegation from WACCI at the Office of the President Annex in Accra. The delegation, led by Professor Eric Danquah, presented on WACCI’s journey and Ghana’s Resetting Agenda, emphasizing the role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in agricultural transformation.
Key targets discussed during the meeting include reducing food imports by 50%, increasing agriculture’s contribution to GDP to $28 billion by 2028 and $50 billion by 2034, creating 20,000 direct agribusiness jobs and over 190,000 indirect jobs, lowering post-harvest losses to below 5% by 2028, and ensuring 30% of farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture by 2028.
“The message is clear—without bold intervention, Ghana risks worsening food insecurity and economic instability,” Prof. Danquah warned.
To achieve these ambitious goals, WACCI outlined four strategic pillars: Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI); Agro-Industrialization and Value Addition; Human Capital Development; and Climate Resilience and Sustainability.
Dr. Otokunor welcomed WACCI’s proposals, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing agricultural innovation.
“We are ready to explore opportunities for commercializing WACCI’s research outputs to ensure long-term sustainability. This partnership will be a game-changer in Ghana’s agricultural sector,” he assured.
The collaboration is expected to accelerate Ghana’s journey towards self-sufficiency in food production while fostering a more resilient agricultural economy.