Ghana’s agriculture sector is set to receive a major boost as MTN Ghana Foundation inaugurates its latest initiative, a state-of-the-art Vegetable Center of Excellence at the University of Ghana School of Agriculture.
The project, valued at over three million Ghana cedis, aims to equip students, unemployed youth, and smallholder farmers with practical skills in modern vegetable production and agribusiness. By leveraging technology-driven approaches, MTN is positioning agriculture as a lucrative, high-tech career path while contributing to reducing Ghana’s nearly two billion-dollar annual food import bill.
The five-acre Vegetable Center of Excellence is designed to offer hands-on training and exposure to innovative agricultural techniques. It includes three greenhouse structures, a nursery unit, fully equipped training and conference rooms, administrative offices, two boreholes, four water storage tanks, and a 24-kilowatt solar power system. Mechanized open-field plots with ploughing and mulching systems, drip irrigation with digital valves, and timers ensure sustainable water management.
Training modules at the center cover seedling nursing, smart irrigation installation, transplanting, fertigation management, pest and disease control, and post-harvest handling. These initiatives are tailored to help students and young entrepreneurs develop skills that transform them from job seekers into job creators, fostering entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in the agriculture sector.
MTN’s Vision for Digital Agriculture
Speaking at the inauguration, MTN Ghana Chief Executive Officer Stephen Blewett emphasized that the center reflects the company’s commitment to economic growth and digital transformation. He highlighted that agriculture can now be controlled entirely from mobile phones, linking modern farming techniques to MTN’s broader digital vision.
Blewett stated that the facility is a long-term investment in Ghana’s food security and economic stability. It is designed to make agriculture attractive to young people who often shy away from farming. By integrating technology into agricultural practices, MTN is ensuring that Ghana’s youth can view farming not only as a source of food but also as a profitable and sustainable career.
Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, MTN Ghana’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, underscored the foundation’s focus on sustainable and scalable initiatives. The center is solar powered, aligning with MTN’s target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Wiafe noted that Defarmercist, the agronomic solutions provider managing the facility, demonstrated it takes just three months for trainees to reach market readiness with proper tools and guidance.
The initiative also supports broader community engagement by offering short agricultural courses for the public and providing pathways to youth employment. MTN’s emphasis on scalability ensures that more young people, including those beyond university enrollment, can access practical training and become productive participants in Ghana’s agricultural economy.
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice
Professor Felix Ankomah Asante, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Ghana, highlighted the importance of linking academic knowledge with practical application. He emphasized that students engaging with the hub gain confidence, practical skills, and networking opportunities that make them both employable and entrepreneurial from day one.
Professor Eric Nartey, Dean of the School of Agriculture, added that vegetable production demands mechanized and efficient techniques. The center equips students with modern tools and technologies not typically available through traditional agricultural education, preparing them to excel in the competitive agricultural sector.
Kwasi Etu Bonde, Technical Adviser to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, commended MTN Ghana Foundation and its partners for creating a sustainable initiative that contributes significantly to job creation. The center’s focus on technology-driven approaches such as fertigation, drip irrigation, mulching, and nutrient recycling supports modern agricultural methods and makes farming more appealing to Ghanaian youth.
Samuel Agyemang, Co-Founder of Defarmercist Group, highlighted that the center attracts young people to agriculture by demonstrating practical applications of technology. Students are trained to become job creators rather than job seekers, contributing to a new generation of innovative agripreneurs.
Reducing Food Import Dependency
Ghana currently spends nearly two billion dollars annually on food imports despite having fertile land and a capable workforce. The MTN Vegetable Center of Excellence addresses this challenge by building local production capacity and empowering young farmers with skills to cultivate high-value crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce.
By fostering self-sufficiency and promoting urban farming, the initiative contributes to national food security and economic resilience.
The facility represents a two-year pilot aimed at assessing scalability and effectiveness before potential expansion to other regions of Ghana. Future developments may include the integration of drones, laboratories, and incubation facilities to further support young entrepreneurs in developing innovative solutions for agricultural challenges. MTN Ghana continues to pursue its Ambition 2025 strategy, using its technological expertise and financial resources to support broader development objectives beyond telecommunications.
By combining technology, sustainability, and skills development, MTN Ghana Foundation is redefining agriculture in the country. The Vegetable Center of Excellence serves as a model for how private sector initiatives can complement national agricultural strategies, empower youth, and transform Ghana’s agricultural sector into a modern, high-tech, and economically significant sector.
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