The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana has launched the African Plant Breeders Association (APBA). The launch which also saw the organisation of APBA’s Maiden Conference was on the theme, “Advances in Classical Breeding and Application of Modern Breeding Tools for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa”.
Professor Daniel Asiedu, Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences
Welcoming over 300 scientists, researchers, national agriculture policy makers, students and professionals from both public and private sectors in the fields of plant breeding and science, Professor Daniel Asiedu, Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, expressed his gratitude to the Interim Executives of the African Plant Breeders Association for choosing the University of Ghana as the venue for the launch and the maiden International Conference of the Association. He noted that WACCI in the last seven years has produced the highest number of PhD students including international students from across the West and Central Africa sub- regions and beyond. He believed the record would be maintained and improved.
Professor Asiedu recounted that the untapped agricultural potential in sub-Saharan Africa has contributed to extreme poverty and deteriorating food and nutrient security with over 240 million people hungry. Hence, there was the need for a drastic change within the food and agricultural system in sub-Saharan Africa if the region was to attain sustainable development goal 2 which states “End hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030”.
Professor Eric Danquah, Director, WACCI
Professor Eric Danquah, Director, WACCI, University of Ghana, and Interim President, APBA in brief remarks indicated that Africa remains the most endowed continent in natural resources and urged Africa leaders to consider trans generational leadership to unlock the African dream and free the next generation to take the continent to the next level.
Honourable Sagre Bambang delivering remarks at the ceremony
Honourable Sagre Bambangi, Member of Parliament for Walewale Constituency, Northern Region, represented Dr. Nurah Gyiele, Honourable Minister of State, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana, as the Guest of Honour. He encouraged the increase in domestic food production to advance food agriculture.
Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana
Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, in his closing remarks, emphasised that the call to attain sustainable development goal 2 must be swiftly and positively attended to. He further advocated the need for public-private partnership to attain the goal. He called for the creation of a common platform for networking and connecting action to advocate for investment and research for the development of crops in Africa.
Professor Victor Agyemang, Director General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
The three-day conference which was hosted by the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) from October 23-25, 2019; and chaired by Professor Victor Agyemang, Director General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana, sought to share knowledge, build partnerships, generate and publicize solutions to modernize breeding programmes for the transformation of Agriculture in Africa.
Later, the Kofi Annan Enterprise Hub for Agricultural Innovation was inaugurated at the WACCI offices. The Hub, supported by the Australian High Commission was unveiled by the representative of Dr. Nurah Gyiele, Minister of State, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor and His Excellency Andrew Barnes, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana.
Unveiling the Kofi Annan Enterprise Hub for Agricultural Innovation
A cross-section of participants at the Conference
