Who we are
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) is a partnership between the University of Ghana (UG) and Cornell University, USA that was established in June 2007 with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at the University of Ghana to train Plant Breeders in Africa working on the improvement of African crops train in local environments for farmers in Africa. The Centre has expanded its scope to train Seed Scientists in Africa.
What we do
WACCI is training Plant Breeders and Seed Scientists for the sub-region on classical plant breeding and complementary molecular biology technologies needed for efficient development of superior and adaptable crops. WACCI is one institution among many that are working towards eradicating food insecurity in the sub-region through the training of the people needed to breed and to improve access to high quality seeds to improve food security crops for the rural farmers who currently cultivate unimproved low yielding varieties. WACCI is contributing the needed human resources for the strengthening breeding and seed science programmes of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in SSA.
News Highlights
Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, Founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, has called on African governments, development partners and the private sector to prioritise sustained investment in agricultural research and plant breeding to strengthen food security, create jobs and drive economic transformation.
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, in collaboration with the International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN), hosted the 9th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium (IPPS9) in Accra from 12 to 16 October 2026, marking the first time the international symposium has been held in Africa.
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana participated in the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026, held at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, from 31 August to 4 September 2026.
The 20th Africa Food Systems Forum was organised under the theme, “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.” It brought together more than 4,000 stakeholders from over 50 countries to explore strategies for transforming Africa’s food systems.
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Student Population
208
Alumni
20
Countries
