For Immediate Release
WACCI to Host Scientific Symposium in Celebration of the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA)
Event Title: WACCI: Seed to Impact – Highlighting the Journey from Seed Funding to Tangible Outcomes
Accra, Ghana – June 25, 2025 – The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana will host a high-level research symposium on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the WACCI Auditorium to commemorate the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA).
Themed “WACCI: Seed to Impact – Highlighting the Journey from Seed Funding to Tangible Outcomes,” the event will celebrate groundbreaking agricultural research enabled by seed grants. It will spotlight WACCI’s pivotal contributions to food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and innovation in agricultural science across West Africa.
This year’s DSRA celebration also marks a significant milestone—the successful conclusion of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Project, officially ending on June 30, 2025.
The programme will be moderated by Mrs. Barbara Dodoo-Arhin, Assistant Registrar at WACCI, and will open with remarks from Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, Founding Director of WACCI and 2022 Africa Food Prize Laureate.
Featured Presentations
A central feature of the event will be research presentations by Principal Investigators whose projects received seed funding. These short talks will highlight innovative breakthroughs across key staple and underutilised crops and demonstrate how targeted investments in science yield tangible outcomes for communities across Africa.
Presenters and Topics:
Dr. Daniel Dzidzienyo – From Root to Wealth: Cassava as Ghana’s Engine for Industrialisation and Food Security
Dr. Naalamle Amissah – Unlocking the Value of Frafra Potato: A Pathway to Staple Crop Status
Dr. Agyemang Danquah – From Season to Season: Transforming Ghana’s Tomato Industry
Dr. Theresa Ankamah-Yeboah – Developing High-Yielding Sorghum Hybrids with Demand-Driven Traits for Commercialisation
Dr. John Eleblu – Smart Seeds, Bold Returns: Cowpea Innovation as a Driver of Transformation
Dr. Pearl Abu – Seed to Impact: Driving Transformation in Maize Improvement for Ghana
Dr. Mavis Osei-Wusu – Seed to Impact: Climate-Smart Rice for Ghana’s Food Future
Special Guests and Closing Remarks
The symposium will conclude with closing remarks from:
Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, MP – Chair, Parliamentary Select Committee on Agriculture, Cocoa and Food
Dr. Abdou Tenkouano – Director General, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya
Special guests expected include:
Ms. Aurore Rusiga, Country Director, World Food Programme (WFP), and her Deputies
Farmer Anthony, President, Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness
A delegation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Embassy, Accra
About DSRA
The Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) is observed annually on June 30 to honour Africa’s rich scientific legacy and emphasize the centrality of science, technology, and innovation in driving the continent’s development.
WACCI’s DSRA symposium underscores its mission to advance research that improves crop productivity, enhances nutrition, and secures sustainable livelihoods across Africa.
Media Contact:
Email: info@wacci.ug.edu.gh
Website: www.wacci.ug.edu.gh
