MTN, UG launch GH¢3m project to empower youth in agric
By Christabel DANSO ABEAM
MTN Ghana has partnered with the University of Ghana and smart agronomic service provider Defarmercist to launch a GH¢3million initiative aimed at establishing a Vegetable Centre of Excellence at the University of Ghana farm at Legon.
The initiative seeks to empower young people through vocational agriculture training and equip them with practical skills to venture into agribusiness as part of broader efforts to reduce youth unemployment in the country.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, stated that the pilot phase of the project is expected to train at least 300 young people over the next two years in modern agricultural practices.
The centre will offer both theoretical and hands-on training in areas including crop production, greenhouse farming, marketing and agribusiness management.
Graduates of the programme will gain access to land, farming tools and market linkages to support them in establishing their own agribusinesses.
Ms. Wiafe stressed the importance of attracting the youth to agriculture as a strategic solution to unemployment. “At MTN, we recognise the need to make the agricultural sector more attractive and create jobs for the youth. Agriculture remains one of the key support systems not just in Ghana, but globally,” she said.
She also highlighted the rising cost of food and Ghana’s heavy reliance on food imports, noting that boosting local vegetable production could help reduce food prices and lessen import dependency.
“This is a home-grown initiative. Everything, from training to production, is Ghanaian-led and aimed at creating real, lasting impact,” she added.
Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Ghana, Professor Eric Nartey, lauded MTN Ghana for the intervention and called for further investment in smart classrooms to extend educational opportunities to underserved communities.
“We aim to train more young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, using our own local expertise,” Prof. Nartey noted. He also emphasised the project’s potential to curtail imports and create sustainable employment for Ghanaian youth.
General Manager of Defarmercist, Charles Agyeman, outlined the project’s two-phase implementation model.
He explained that the first phase will focus on greenhouse and open-field production, while the second will offer training in commercial agribusiness management.
The post MTN, UG launch GH¢3m project to empower youth in agric appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.