Accra: Mrs. Appiah Wiafe Addo, the Country Director of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), has urged stakeholders in Ghana's agricultural sector to enhance innovation, inclusion, and market-oriented skills development to establish agriculture as a profitable and respectable career path for young people. Mrs. Addo made this appeal during the opening ceremony of the Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agriculture TVET (ACTIVATE) Learning Forum in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the forum, themed 'Cultivating the Future: Integrating Innovation and Inclusion in ATVET for Ghana's Youth,' marks the first collective gathering of stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem to evaluate the project's achievements and discuss its potential impact on transforming Ghana's broader agricultural landscape. The ACTIVATE Project, a five-year initiative running from 2024 to 2028, is implemented by WUSC in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation in Ghana, aiming to revolutionize the Agriculture TVET system.
Mrs. Addo emphasized the project's goal to exceed conventional training methods by fostering systemic change through a blend of modern market-aligned skills, practical innovation, and inclusion. She highlighted the importance of demonstrating agriculture as a dynamic and rewarding career option for young people and stressed the project's focus on creating sustainable employment and entrepreneurship pathways for youth aged 15-35.
The project has supported various youth groups, including young women, persons with disabilities, and displaced youth, to engage in agricultural opportunities and reshape perceptions of modern agriculture. Institutional changes have been noted, with trainers adopting more inclusive approaches and creating real-world experience opportunities through industry partnerships.
Mrs. Addo encouraged participants to critically assess field evidence and identify scalable approaches beyond the project to inform national policies, institutional frameworks, and investments across the agricultural value chain. She expressed optimism that stakeholder collaboration would translate ACTIVATE's lessons into broader sector interventions, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for Ghanaian youth.
Participants interacted with exhibitions showcasing the project's work, engaged in discussions, and formed partnerships to sustain the innovations and lessons emerging from the initiative. Mr. Paul Kasanga, the Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation, highlighted the need for Ghana's agricultural sector to evolve with changing technology, climate conditions, markets, and the aspirations of young people. He urged the forum to focus on learning, adapting, and building an agricultural system suited to Ghana's future, emphasizing that agriculture encompasses more than farming and remains relevant to young people amidst changing economic conditions.