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10 Seed Companies Licensed to Produce, Distribute Improved Crop Varieties
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In a move to strengthen Ghana’s seed system and accelerate agricultural innovation, the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR–CRI) has licensed 10 private seed companies to produce and distribute improved crop varieties developed by the Institute.
The initiative, led by Dr. Hillary Mireku Botey, Senior Research Scientist and Intellectual Property Officer at CSIR–CRI, is expected to enhance large-scale production, reduce post-development dormancy of varieties, and support the government’s feeding programme.
“This development will ensure that our varieties no longer sit on shelves unused. We are augmenting the work of private seed companies toward profitability and national impact,” Dr. Botey stated.
The announcement coincides with a five-day follow-up training on Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing of plant varieties held in Kumasi from November 3 to 7, 2025.
Organized through a collaboration between the Ghana Industrial Property Office (GHIPO) of the Registrar-General’s Department, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and CSIR–CRI, the training builds on the foundational session held in November 2024.
The DUS training is focused on five key crops — rice, cowpea, yam, tomato, and maize — selected as prototypical varieties for testing. Notably, Dr. Botey explained that yam and cowpea were not widely cultivated or standardized globally, and therefore lack existing UPOV test guidelines. This gap has created an opportunity for CSIR–CRI to develop localized testing protocols that will help update and validate existing varieties in Ghana’s system.
Participants were drawn from leading national breeding and research institutions, including CSIR–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), CSIR–Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), and the Directorate of Crop Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Dr. Ernest Baafi, Deputy Director of CSIR–CRI, expressed confidence that the training would equip national plant breeders and seed scientists to conduct DUS trials efficiently and effectively, in line with the Plant Variety Protection Act, 2020 (Act 1050) and its accompanying Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2463).
The sessions were being facilitated by two international experts from Naktuinbouw, the Netherlands — Dr. Wim Sangster and Dr. Lizah van den Engel — alongside Dr. Botey.
The training features interactive, hands-on modules designed to align Ghana’s plant variety testing with international standards under the UPOV Convention.
By Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Government of Ghana has respectfully declined an offer by MTN Ghana to donate GH¢20 million to support Ghanaian victims of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In a statement issued on August 26, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had become aware of media reports suggesting the telecom giant was preparing to make the donation, with publications attributing the announcement to an interview granted by MTN Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Yamson.
“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry stated.
According to the Ministry, the Mahama administration has made adequate provision for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the attacks and is therefore unable to accept the offer.
The Ministry disclosed that this position had earlier been directly conveyed to the Board Chair and CEO of MTN when they called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), on August 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, the government says it remains fully committed to the current humanitarian evacuations and the provision of financial support for the reintegration of every Ghanaian brought back from harm’s way.
The Ministry further assured the public that it will present a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuations as soon as the exercise is concluded, in the interest of transparency and accountability.
“Government will continue to create the best business ecosystem for all international brands operating in Ghana to succeed, irrespective of which country their businesses originated from. The welfare of all Ghanaians remains our utmost priority,” the statement added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
President John Dramani Mahama has made further changes to his government in a mini-reshuffle announced on Tuesday.
As part of the changes, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, who until now served as Minister for Labour, Employment and Job Creation, has been reassigned as Minister of State for Special Initiatives.
He is being replaced at the Labour Ministry by Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum.
In another move, the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has been reassigned as Presidential Advisor on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness.
According to a communication from the Presidency, the reassignments take immediate effect.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
