Sep 17, 2026
Ghana’s newest public institution of higher learning, the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS), has pledged to train engineers and agricultural scientists who will blend expertise to create a unique value chain from agriculture to agribusiness.
“We want to train industry-ready engineers and agricultural scientists to help with the industrialisation of the nation, address food security and create jobs for the youth,” the Vice-Chancellor of UEAS, Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah, told the Daily Graphic in Accra.
Located at Bunso in the Eastern Region, it is the first fully-fledged university that integrates engineering, agricultural science, innovation and entrepreneurship to train hands-on industry-ready graduates in agriculture and engineering.
UEAS is set up under the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026 (Act 1169).
The university aims to become a centre of excellence in engineering innovation and agro-entrepreneurship, and the leading institution of its kind in Africa.
Prof. Adom-Asamoah, who led a three-member delegation of UEAS to pay a courtesy call on the Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey, said the university had been designed to respond to some of the major development challenges confronting the country, particularly industrialisation, food security and youth unemployment.
Unlike the conventional approach where students in different disciplines are trained separately, the Vice-Chancellor said the university would deliberately bring engineering and agricultural science students together to develop practical solutions to agriculture and agribusiness.
The well-planned university’s campus at Bunso has been developed with a $92-million Korean Exim Bank loan.
With facilities, including faculty buildings, two major buildings for classes, laboratories, an administration block, a library, halls of residence and staff accommodation, Prof. Adom-Asamoah described the campus as the best-planned university campus in the country.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, inaugurated the Governing Council and the Core Management Team of UEAS on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, with a mandate to officially operationalise the University for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Before the end of the year, President Mahama is expected to inaugurate the university, which will admit its first cohort of students next month. Follow Federal Policy
The university will initially operate two schools — the School of Engineering and the School of Agricultural Science.
The School of Engineering will offer Bachelor of Science programmes in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering.
The School of Agricultural Science will offer programmes such as Agronomy, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, and Food Technology and Nutrition Science
This means students of agriculture would do core courses such as agronomy from the first year through to the fourth year, unlike traditional universities where students electe to study courses or select their majors only after the first year.
Training
Prof. Adom-Asamoah explained that the university’s Innovation Centre, for instance, would serve as a major platform for students to combine knowledge from engineering and agriculture to develop new technologies and solutions.
He indicated that students would have access to machinery and other facilities at the centre to conduct experiments, design and develop innovations.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that in developing smart agriculture systems, for instance, engineering students would develop the technology for irrigation, while agricultural science students would provide the technical knowledge on when crops required water based on factors such as temperature and other agronomic conditions.
“That is called smart agriculture. So, we want to bring all of them together,” he said.
Prof. Adom-Asamoah said the approach was intended to move tertiary education beyond the traditional emphasis on theoretical knowledge to equipping students with the ability to apply what they learnt to solve practical national problems.
Entrepreneurship
The Vice-Chancellor said another feature that would distinguish the university was the strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and leadership development.
He said the university would, therefore, introduce a residential system, modelled on systems used by institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge universities and some universities in the United States.
Under the system, students would receive additional training outside the conventional classroom curriculum in areas such as time management, financial management, peaceful coexistence and constructive argument.
For his part, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of UEAS, Prof. Dominic Otoo, said the institution’s visit to the Graphic Communications Group Ltd was intentional as part of efforts to seek media support for its programmes and activities.
The Registrar, Dr Paul Kwadwo Addo, also said all the programmes offered by UEAS had been duly accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
He said the UEAS had assembled experienced academics from existing public universities, stressing that UEAS would not become a “trial and error” institution.
Graphic
Mr Yartey said partnerships and collaborations underlay Graphic’s 76 years existence and stood ready to work with the university for their mutual benefits.
“We also collaborate with other corporate bodies, and that is why we have the Stanbic-Graphic Business Breakfast Meeting, which is held four times a year,” he said.
“People can vouch for our credibility which we don’t take for granted,” Mr Yartey said, adding that the company had evolved into a major player in the digital space.
Sep 17, 2026
Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, says the Volta Region holds enormous agricultural potential and efforts must be geared towards connecting farmers to the needed resources to unlock that potential.
He said focus must be on linking farmers to resources, technology, financing and markets to increase production, create jobs and build sustainable livelihoods.
Hon. Gunu made the remarks at the national launch of the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI) held at Anloga in the Volta Region on Tuesday, September 15.
The initiative, under the theme “Produce at Home. Feed the Nation. Export the Surplus,” seeks to boost local tomato production, processing and marketing while reducing Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported tomatoes.
The launch was attended by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, his Deputy, John Setor Dumelo, Feed Ghana Coordinator, Bright Demordzi, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, MMDCEs, farmers and other stakeholders.
Mr.Gunu expressed appreciation to the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the support announced for the region, including two excavators, 200 cartons of organic fertiliser, and GH¢200,000 for Ms. Kuatudzo Esther Dela, a tomato farmer and processor from Ziope.
He described the initiative as an important step towards making agriculture a stronger driver of food security, job creation and economic growth in the Volta Region.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Source:https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/
Sep 17, 2026
The government has allocated GH¢1.982 billion to the Ghana School Feeding Programme for 2026, with more than 4.5 million schoolchildren now receiving a hot meal every school day.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said the programme currently covers 4,527,636 children, up from 4,029,580 in 2024.
She said the expansion demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving child nutrition while supporting school attendance and retention.
Dr Lartey said the allocation for the programme had increased from GH¢1.393 billion in 2024 to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025 and GH¢1.982 billion this year.
The feeding grant has also risen from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2 per child. “The amount used to be GH¢1.50 and that has been increased to GH¢2.”
She said government had also cleared caterer arrears from 2024 and paid the first and second terms of the 2025/26 academic year.
Monitoring has been expanded from 4,419 schools in 2025 to 8,270 this year, while 20,171 caterers and head cooks have received training in practical nutrition standards.
Dr Lartey has previously stressed that the government would not compromise on the quality and nutritional value of meals served to children.
Source:https://www.myjoyonline.com
Sep 16, 2026
The latest AGRA Food Security Monitor report says food prices in Ghana remained largely stable in August compared to the previous month.
The August 2026 report says overall food price conditions remain relatively unchanged compared to July, with variations across food commodities such as rice, maize, and sorghum.
The report says the national average price of rice remained stable at GHS 11,100/MT, showing no month-on-month change.
“Prices were slightly higher than three months earlier (+0.9%) but remained 10.1% below six-month levels and 16.4% lower than a year earlier, reflecting adequate domestic and imported rice supplies.”
Click here to read the full report
The price of sorghum also remained stable during the month, with the national average price unchanged at GHS 5,833/MT.
“Prices were slightly lower than three months ago (-1.2%) and significantly below six-month levels (-10.3%), indicating improved market supplies compared to earlier in the year,” the report said.
However, prices remained 2.9% higher than a year earlier, suggesting that domestic market conditions are still somewhat firmer than those prevailing during the same period last year.
The report, however, notes the national average price of white maize increased by 8.9% month-on-month to GHS 3,141/MT.
“However, prices remained 8.9% lower than six months ago and 36.3% below year-earlier levels, suggesting that despite recent market tightening, overall supply conditions remain more favourable than a year ago.”
On broader cost-of-living trends, the report says Ghana experienced further increases in fuel prices in August.
Petrol prices rose by 3% and diesel prices by 1% compared with July. As a result, petrol and diesel prices stood 29% and 19% above March levels respectively, indicating sustained upward pressure in the domestic fuel market
The monthly Food Security Monitor tracks food security across 17 countries in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa.
The report is produced by AGRA with support from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Africa Food Trade & Resilience Programme.
Regional and global trends
On regional trends, the report observes that in West and Central Africa, first-season maize production has generally remained near average, but agricultural conditions remain fragile across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, and parts of the Sahel due to highly variable rainfall distribution and localized moisture deficits.
Although seasonal forecasts suggest generally average rainfall across much of the region, drier-than-normal conditions are anticipated in some coastal zones and in central Nigeria, potentially affecting crop performance later in the season.
Across Africa, fertiliser prices remained elevated in several countries, particularly in East and Southern Africa, although recent declines in countries such as Zambia, Ghana, and Nigeria suggest easing price pressures and improving market conditions in some markets amidst policy interventions.
The report notes global commodity market trends in August 2026 were characterised by rising food and agricultural commodity prices amid tightening global supply conditions, strong demand, weather-related production concerns, and trade disruptions.
Global grain markets tightened further as 2026/27 production forecasts were reduced due to adverse weather conditions, particularly in Europe, while disruptions to Black Sea exports added upward pressure on prices.
Climate-related risks higher for upcoming farming season
The AGRA report says in West and Central Africa, agricultural production has generally remained near average, but variable rainfall, localised moisture deficits, conflict, displacement, and market disruptions continue to threaten livelihoods and food access.
Overall, the combination of El Niño-driven climate shocks, conflict, economic pressures, and displacement is expected to exacerbate food insecurity across the continent, underscoring the need for early preparedness, climate adaptation, and resilience-building measures.
The report cautions that a powerful El Niño event is developing in the Pacific Ocean and is projected to become one of the strongest on record during the 2026/27 season.
It notes that the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates a greater than 90% probability of its continuation and a 69% chance of surpassing all El Niño events recorded since 1950. This is significantly increasing climate-related risks across Africa.
Source https://www.myjoyonline.com/
Sep 16, 2026
The Russian Embassy in Accra has issued scholarship opportunities to 97 specialist agriculture students as part of 237 scholarships awarded to Ghanaian students admitted to Russian institutions for the 2026/27 academic year.
The Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Andrei Ordash, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, explained that the concentration of the majority of the scholarships to agriculture students was because of Ghana’s interest in developing its agricultural sector, which he described as vital for the economy.
He said Russia consequently intended to help Ghana in that endeavour.
Mr Ordash said for Ghana to realise this ambition, it would need technologists and other specialists in that field, and that Russia, which had that expertise, was willing to offer the relevant help.
“Without qualified national specialists, it is impossible to implement any agricultural project, energy project, modern industrial programme, digital transformation or development of the mining sector,” he said.
Russia remains one of Ghana’s main trading partners, supplying Ghana with important commodities such as fertiliser for the agriculture sector.
Other supplies Ghana receives from Russia include grains and petroleum products.
Russian companies
Mr Ordash said Russian companies were already keen to expand their supplies of food and fertilisers to African markets, including Ghana.
He said that could include projects involving food processing, the supply of agricultural machinery and technology transfer.Newspapers
The Ambassador said the embassy had initially planned to give Ghanaian students 120 scholarships this year as part of a partnership to support Ghana’s development efforts, particularly in educating the youth.
However, he said, following assurances his government gave to Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during a recent trip to Moscow, that Russia would double the number of scholarships for young Ghanaians, the embassy decided to increase it by a further 117, including the 97 who would be trained in different faculties linked with agriculture.
Mr Ordash said over 900 young Ghanaians had applied for studies in Russia this year, adding that more than 500 Ghanaians were currently studying Russian at the University of Ghana alone.
He pointed out that education remained key in Russia’s cooperation with Ghana.Geographic Reference
Mr Ordash touched on a wide range of issues in the interview, including latest areas of focus in Russia-Ghana cooperation; trade and investment; Russia’s war with Ukraine and the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
GraphicOnline, the online news platform of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, published in August this year that Russia had doubled its annual scholarship allocation for Ghanaian students from 120 to 240.
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The publication quoted Mr Ablakwa as saying that Ghana and Russia had also agreed to deepen cooperation in Ghana’s peace nuclear energy programme and green transition objectives.
Source:https://www.graphic.com.gh/
Sep 15, 2026
Vice President Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for greater investment in Ghana’s horticulture sector, saying it can create jobs, build businesses and open new export opportunities for the country.
She said the sector must be viewed beyond the beauty of gardens and flowers, highlighting the broader economic activities that support the industry.
“Behind what we see are growers, skills, services, markets, and livelihoods,” she said.
Prof Naana Jane made the remarks on Friday when she opened the 14th Ghana Garden and Flower Show in Accra.
According to her, the opportunity lies in helping horticultural enterprises grow into sustainable businesses that can employ others, supply larger markets and compete internationally.
“The opportunity is to help more of these enterprises develop into sustainable businesses that can employ others, supply larger markets, and, where possible, compete beyond Ghana,” she said.
She pointed to Kenya as an example of what Ghana can achieve, insisting that the country has the potential to match or surpass such achievements.
“We know we can do same, if not more,” she said.
However, she stressed that developing the sector requires attention to the entire value chain, particularly because horticultural products can be highly perishable.
“Horticulture is demanding because much of what it produces sometimes is perishable,” she said.
She called for reliable transport, storage, quality standards, finance and access to markets to prevent value from being lost.
Under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, she noted that vegetables are among the priority crops, with opportunities to expand production through irrigation, improved inputs, greenhouse production and better market access.
She also highlighted the establishment of farmer service centres across the country, which are expected to provide producers with export support, inputs, machinery, and market linkages.
Prof Naana Jane said horticulture also presents opportunities for young people by bringing together agriculture, technology, creativity and enterprise.
“The opportunity is not only to encourage young people to grow more, but also to help them to see the businesses they can build around their produce,” she said.
She further linked the growth of horticulture to Ghana’s environmental agenda, including the Tree for Life initiative and efforts to improve green spaces in towns and cities.
“Greening should therefore not be something we consider after development; greening should be part of development itself,” she said.
She urged local authorities, developers and businesses to create demand for green spaces while ensuring Ghanaian producers are equipped to serve the market and pursue export opportunities.
“Green means business,” she said, urging stakeholders to work together to make Ghana greener while creating businesses and livelihoods.
She also called on training institutions, financial institutions, the private sector and industry groups to play their respective roles in building the sector.
“Training institutions can develop the skills the sector needs. Financial institutions can support viable enterprises. The private sector can develop markets, and movements such as this one can continue bringing the industry together and making its possibilities visible,” she said.
Source:https://www.myjoyonline.com/
