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Researchers, Scientists key to addressing food security in Africa – AATF Director
Researchers and Scientists have the ability to address food insecurity in Africa, says the Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr Canisius K. Kanangire.
He explained that when researchers and scientists are given the necessary support, in terms of enacting favourable and flexible laws, it would enable them to address some of the major challenges associated with food crop production, including that of climate change.
The Executive Director was speaking on the first day of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The conference, which is on the theme: “Agricultural Resilience through Innovation” brought together researchers, scientists and relevant stakeholders in the food value chain.
The 5-day conference is designed to tackle issues related to Agriculture and Food Security.
Dr. Kanangire explained that challenges such as climate change and population rise were increasing food insecurity on the continent, heightening the urgent need for technological innovations to stem the trend.
“Disrupted rainfall patterns, drought, extreme weather events, pest infestations, plant diseases, crop losses, and hunger are negatively impacting the continent adding that better seeds developed through genetic engineering offer hope,” he stated.
He expressed the concern that “anti-GMO activism has stalled the adoption of genetically engineered crops in many countries, contributing to the perpetuation of unsafe pesticide use, hunger and poverty adding that science-based agriculture could preserve critical indigenous foods, such as cowpea, millet, cassava and sorghum, while reducing the environmental impacts of farming.
Dr. Kanangire was of the view that the time has come for African governments to use data to take decisions that would improve livelihoods and lift millions out of extreme hunger and poverty.
“We need political will for swift and innovative action,” he noted, adding that biotechnology “is the most rapidly adopted innovation in the history of agriculture” and Africa should not be left out.
Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya, stated that most of the time when “we talk about agriculture we do not consider livestock to be part.”
For him, the livestock sector was one of the fastest-growing segments of the agricultural economy, particularly in the developing countries, adding that as demand for meat and dairy products in the developing world continues to increase, questions arise as to how this demand would be met and by whom.
He, therefore, called for technologies that could help detect new diseases in animals.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
