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“The current vision of government for the Kwadaso College of Agriculture is to upgrade the institution into an agricultural university, with collaborative support from the prestigious Mendel University of the Czech Republic. And here, I want to recognise in our midst the presence of our compatriot, Professor Samuel Darkwa, a lecturer and representative of the Mendel University, at this occasion. Professor, I have been apprised of your tireless efforts to help bring about the desired transformation of Kwadaso College, for which we are grateful.”
At the centennial commemoration of the Kwadaso Agricultural College in Kwadaso, in the Ashanti Region, on Friday, September 30, 2022, President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made these remarks.
The Kwadaso College was founded in 1922 to support the Gold Coast in keeping its enviable position as the world’s top cocoa producer. The President highlighted that the College has since developed into a centre of excellence with expanded training capabilities.
The Ghana Cocoa Board, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, as well as the private sector have all hired some of the approximately 100,000 young people who were trained as agricultural assistants by the Kwadaso College of Agriculture over the years, according to President Akufo-Addo.
Due to the significant number of graduates who went on to hold top positions in business, academia, civic society, and industry, he said that “the record of the College in contributing to the human resource development of this country is testament to its strength.”
The President stated that one hundred (100) years after the College was founded, the time is right to reposition the organization to realize its full potential. For this reason, the decision was made to transform Kwadaso Agricultural College into an agricultural university, with assistance from the esteemed Mendel University of the Czech Republic.
“It is my understanding that the agricultural university will take care of the academic and professional development of our human resource for the agricultural sector. If successful, the plan will include establishing satellite campuses in Ejura and Wenchi Agricultural Colleges,” he said.
The development of this university, which is dedicated to agriculture, excites me greatly because we will produce the necessary people resources to support research, disseminate information, and exercise leadership in the field, the president stated.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the need for the country to intentionally increase the number of professionals at the middle level who provide hands-on assistance in the sector, and he acknowledged that the Kwadaso College of Agriculture and other colleges are already laying the groundwork for doing so because some graduates of these institutions have already started benefiting from training in the government’s greenhouse internship program in Ghana and other countries.
“The trainees at such centres are prepared for entrepreneurship by being equipped with academic knowledge and practical skills in greenhouse technology. Once established, the transformed agricultural university and other colleges will serve as incubators for the development of more agricultural professionals in the country,” he said.
In order to realize this vision, the President promised that the government would continue to support the conversion of the college into a university. He also charged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with stepping up its efforts and strengthening its partnership and collaboration with the Mendel University.
“The partnership between Mendel University and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is an excellent example of how wise it is to work together to make our institutions extremely helpful to our developmental endeavors.
I have no doubt that this celebration will foster a sense of community and bring about the realization of this,” he continued.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
