The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has pledged government’s full support for a new partnership with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) aimed at advancing agricultural research, agribusiness development, and job creation in Ghana.
The commitment was made during a meeting with a high-level delegation from UCC led by the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Rofela Combey.
The delegation included the Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Henry De-Graft Acquah; Associate Professor at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Eng. Prof. Ransford Obeng Darko; College Registrar, Isaac Eliot Nyieku; and College Finance Officer, Stephen Baffoe.
Discussions focused on strengthening agricultural innovation and improving value addition within key sectors of the economy, particularly the cassava and shea butter value chains.
The engagement also explored ways of enhancing science-based agricultural research and creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people within the agricultural sector.
A major highlight of the discussions was the proposed operationalisation of a national seed bank to support the cultivation and distribution of locally adaptable and viable seed varieties.
The initiative is expected to improve seed quality, strengthen food production systems, and support long-term agricultural sustainability.
The parties further discussed the integration of biotechnology and advanced molecular processing techniques to boost agribusiness value addition and modernise agricultural production.
Mr Opoku described the collaboration as critical to transforming Ghana’s agriculture sector and aligning it with the government’s broader economic development agenda.
He assured the university delegation of government’s commitment to providing both human and material support to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed initiatives.
The UCC leadership also expressed readiness to provide institutional backing for the partnership, with both sides anticipating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in the near future.
The collaboration forms part of broader efforts by government to position agriculture as a key driver of economic transformation, industrialisation, and job creation under President John Dramani Mahama’s development agenda.
