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EDF Launches its Highflyers Programme at Inaugural Ceremony

The Eric Danquah Foundation (EDF) has been inaugurated at a ceremony held at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI). 

Dr. Naalamle Amissah, Head of the Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana (UG), who chaired the inaugural ceremony said that the EDF had identified an important niche to impact agricultural development in the country.

Dr. Naalamle Amissah, Head of Crop Science Department

 

Four undergraduate students were awarded with fully funded scholarships covering tuition and accommodation for their final year under the Crop Science programme at UG. The students-Bright Fiakeye, Emmanuel Hammond, and Salaudeen Bandaana, who were the highest performing students, as well as Sandra Akrofi, the top-performing female student- were selected on merit and validated by Dr John Eleblu, lead course instructor of their level 300 Genetics course and Dr Naalamle Amissah respectively.

Four Undergraduate Students Awarded Full Scholarship

 

In his address to the students, founder of EDF, Professor Eric Danquah said that foundation will discover, develop and mobilize talent in Africa for the continent’s agricultural transformation. He said that the scholarship winners will be connected to mentors ready to infuse in them the right mix of values, integrity, knowledge and skills to make them game-changers and history makers in modern plant breeding for agricultural transformation in Ghana in the fullness of time.

Prof. Eric Danquah, Founder of the Eric Danquah Foundation (EDF)

 

In response, a representative of the students, Bright Fiakeye expressed their gratitude and reiterated their commitment to hard work to excel in the final year.

Mr. Bright Fiakeye Expressing Gratitude to the Foundation

 

Also present at the ceremony were faculty and staff of WACCI including Prof Pangirayi Tongoona, Associate Director, Breeding Programmes, Dr. Daniel Dzidzienyo, Deputy Centre Leader, African Centres of Excellence Impact Project, Dr. Agyemang Danquah, Coordinator, Academic Programmes, Dr. Beatrice Ifie, Maize Breeder, Dr. Theresa Ankamah-Yeboah, Associate Coodinator, Academic Affairs, Jennifer Saint Acquaye, Team Lead, Industry and Sectoral Liaison, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afrifa, Team Lead Grants Management, Ms. Lucia Akumpule, Team Lead, Project Management, Mr. Francis Turkson, Team Lead, ICT, Ms. Alma-Lisa Lartey, Team Lead, Communications, Ms. Isabella Gyimah, Executive Assistant and Mr. David Arthur, Consultant, Institutional Advancement.

Group photograph of participants at the Inauguration Ceremony

 

About the Foundation

The idea for the Eric Danquah Foundation was conceived by Professor Eric Danquah while receiving the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA) World Agriculture Prize (WAP) on October 28, 2018. The Foundation was duly registered, and approved to commence business in February 2020. The Highflyers in Plant Breeding Genetics Programme is its flagship project and the Foundation aims to launch other programmes in due course. The EDF is open for conversations on partnerships for agricultural development in Africa.