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Find innovative ways to diversify staple foods…Scientists told
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Scientists have been entreated to find innovative ways to diversify staple foods to increase consumption among Ghanaians.
Such innovations according to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie would help tackle the challenge of importation in the country.
He made the assertion at the opening of the 34th ordinary session of the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) directors meeting in Accra on Tuesday.
The three-day meeting organised by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with CORAF seeks to discuss matters surrounding science, technology and innovation in the field of agriculture.
It brought together representatives from diverse research institutions, governmental bodies, and private sector entities.
Dr Afriyie revealed that Ghana spends per anum 3.5 million dollars in importation of foods that could locally be manufactured in Ghana adding that the high dependence on imported food , despite vast untapped domestic potential, came with ramifications for the cedi and local job prospects.
He was of the view that the staple value chain in Ghana, when supported would lead to increased commercialisation and improved production of high quality and quantities that are competitive, adding that it will also help reduce the impact of imports on the economy.
He stated that the result of such investments will have far-reaching impacts on the economy, as it will retain value within, as well as create sustainable jobs for the country’s teeming youth.
He called on all stakeholders to create an enabling environment that encouraged the adoption of scientific knowledge and technological advancements in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
Mr Bryan Acheampong, Minister, Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in a speech read on his behalf said Ghana’s food production dropped yearly and was expected to drop further as time went by, due to the impact of climate change.
He explained that long dry spells, floods and increase in temperature, were impacting the country’s agriculture sector which had led to decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He noted that continuous decline could lead to food insecurity, poverty, and malnutrition.
The Executive Director of CORAF, Dr Abdou Tenkouano said his outfit was committed to improving agriculture in Africa, hence thanked CSIR for their immense contribution to food security.
Prof Paul Pinnock Bosu, Director-General, (CSIR) said the council had to shifted its focus from being a public sector institution to a private sector-driven research institution.
As a result, the council now liaised more with the private sector and conduct research to assist in product development, including the use of innovation, to make the council competitive on the global market.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
Egypt will host Africa’s new flagship business summit this October, as leaders from across the continent converge in the newly built smart city of New Alamein for the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum.
The forum is scheduled for October 2-4, 2026 in New Alamein, Egypt’s fourth-generation coastal megacity.
The city combines advanced infrastructure, modern residential districts, international universities, cultural landmarks, and major tourism and investment projects under one master plan.
Dubbed “the continent’s premier gathering where political power meets entrepreneurial prowess,” the forum is expected to bring together over 20 African Heads of State and Government, senior leaders from leading international and regional financial institutions, and key players driving transformation across Africa’s most critical sectors.
Co-organised by the Government of Egypt, African Export-Import Bank, and AUDA-NEPAD, the Alamein Africa Forum is designed as a permanent biennial platform to advance strategic partnerships and unlock investment across Africa and global markets.[Afreximbank]
The agenda will focus on sectors defining Africa’s future: infrastructure, energy, digital transformation, manufacturing, critical minerals, health markets, and intra-African trade*.
The programme will feature high-level plenary sessions, sector-focused panels, closed-door roundtables, and structured B2B and B2G meetings aimed at facilitating concrete deals and long-term partnerships.
Special sessions will also highlight Egypt’s role as a regional hub and gateway to African markets.
The inaugural forum will be held in parallel with the 2026 African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting and the 33rd Annual Meetings of Afreximbank.
Organizers say the forum will serve as a launchpad to translate the African Union’s 50-year strategic master plan, Agenda 2063, into concrete projects, policies and partnerships that will define Africa’s economic trajectory for the next decade.
“In an era of shifting alliances and rising volatility, Africa can no longer afford to be a bystander in decisions that shape its own economic future,” organizers stated.
The forum aims to place the private-sector agenda at the heart of AU decision-making, lower investment risk, unlock capital, and build cross-border partnerships to strengthen Africa’s resilience to external shocks.
Located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, New Alamein represents Egypt’s vision for smart, sustainable urban development. Hosting the forum there is expected to showcase the city as both a symbol of African modernization and a hub for investment and innovation.
By bringing public and private sector leadership into one alliance, the Alamein Africa Forum is positioned to become Africa’s go-to space for turning commitments into implementation.
By Chris KONEY, for Egyptian Embassy, ACCRA.
Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on stakeholders in the Bono Region to raise the bar on professionalism and patriotism if the region is to unlock its full tourism potential.
Speaking during a familiarisation tour of the region, the Minister met with staff of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCs).
The engagement focused on how to position Bono as a leading cultural and tourism destination in Ghana.
Gomashie challenged public institutions to take a cue from the private sector by improving service delivery and embracing efficiency.
“Our institutions must be intentional about the way we serve the public,” she said, adding that “We need stronger collaboration and public-private partnerships to attract the right investment and build the tourism infrastructure that will make Bono competitive.”
The Minister urged MMDCs to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry and its agencies to identify, develop and promote key tourist attractions in their districts.
She also stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage while creating an enabling environment for investors in tourism, culture and the creative arts.
The Minister added that “Tourism is not just about beautiful sites. It is about stories, about our heritage, and about the opportunities we create for our people.”
“This work we do today is not for ourselves alone. It is for Ghana and for generations yet unborn,” she noted.
Dzifa Gomashie further called on all stakeholders to build on the foundation inherited from previous leaders and leave behind a stronger, more vibrant sector.
The tour forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to decentralize tourism development and ensure every region benefits from Ghana’s growing creative economy.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
