MTN Ghana Foundation Reviews Progress of University of Ghana Vegetable Centre of Excellence Project
The MTN Ghana Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Ghana’s Faculty of Agriculture and the Defarmercist Group, has conducted an inspection tour of the University of Ghana farms to assess ongoing works at the Vegetable Centre of Excellence situated within the Department of Crop Science.
The project, which began in May 2025, forms part of MTN Ghana Foundation’s commitment to promoting modern agricultural training and innovation. Scheduled for completion by the end of the year, the Centre of Excellence is expected to train more than 300 beneficiaries in modern farming techniques, agribusiness development and sustainable agricultural practices. Students will have the opportunity to acquire hands-on experience in crop management, irrigation technologies and environmentally friendly farming methods. The initiative will also open its doors to unemployed youth and smallholder farmers aiming to expand their agribusiness ventures.
Leading the inspection, Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, expressed satisfaction with the impressive progress made in just five months. She noted that the Centre represents a significant step toward transforming agricultural training in Ghana.
“This Centre is not only about food production; it’s about shaping the future of agriculture in Ghana. We want to empower students and young people with the tools and expertise to build businesses in farming. Too many graduates leave school with theoretical knowledge but without practical experience. Here, they will gain hands-on training that turns knowledge into opportunity,” she said.
According to her, the project is designed with a national vision that goes beyond the University of Ghana. “The University of Ghana’s students will be the first major beneficiaries, but this project goes beyond one institution. Our vision is to create a model that can be replicated across the country, supporting Ghana’s fight against youth unemployment and contributing to food security. Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, and this Centre demonstrates how it can be modernized, mechanized and sustainable.”
The Co-Founder of the Defarmercist Group, Samuel Agyemang, underscored the Centre’s potential to make agriculture more appealing to young people. He explained that the introduction of smart agricultural technologies is key to reshaping perceptions about farming.
“We are introducing smart solutions like automated irrigation and greenhouse systems that make farming less labor-intensive. The students will see how technology transforms farming into a profitable and sustainable business. By the time they graduate, they will not be job seekers but job creators, ready to drive agribusiness innovation,” he emphasized.
Currently, the project stands at approximately seventy percent completion. Significant installations already in place include solar power infrastructure, three modern greenhouse structures, a fully equipped training room and designated office spaces. The centre’s training modules will cover essential areas such as seedling nursing, smart irrigation installation and scheduling, transplanting, fertigation management, pest and disease control, and post-harvest handling.
The initiative is being implemented as a two-year pilot programme, after which a comprehensive review will be conducted to determine its impact and the feasibility of scaling it up nationwide.
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