Accra | The CIRAWA Agroecology Conference got underway in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday 1 July 2026, bringing together policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners to advance agroecological solutions for sustainable food systems in West Africa.
The conference runs until 3 July 2026 and focuses on the opportunities, barriers, and practical pathways for scaling agroecology across the region as part of the EU-funded CIRAWA project.
A statement from the Vice President of Ghana, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, officially opened the conference. It was delivered by the Chief of Staff of the Vice President, Alex Percival Segbefia.
“We must move away from the systems that are not delivering the results we need but we must also be clear about where we are moving to.
“The government of Ghana has committed, through its factsheet feedback program, to promoting the mainstreaming of agroecological practices as part of the country’s wider agricultural transformation agenda.”
Statement from the Vice President of Ghana, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, delivered by Alex Percival Segbefia, the Chief of Staff of the Vice President.
The Vice President’s statement added that the government would support agroecological practices such as crop diversification; agroforestry; improved soil fertility and management via compost and other techniques; the production and use of biofertilizers and biopesticides; farmer-led irrigation; simple mechanisation systems; and the local production of high-yielding seed varieties.
“Building on this commitment there is a need for a national agroecology strategy. The work is intended to advance the broader transformation of our food systems and to contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals.”
Statement from the Vice President of Ghana, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, delivered by Alex Percival Segbefia, the Chief of Staff of the Vice President.
Also in the opening ceremony, Edmond Moukala, Head of UNESCO’s office in Accra, described the conference as a “historic junction” where policy, science, and ancestral wisdom converge to address one of today’s most urgent challenges: how to feed people while restoring the planet.
“Africa is on the frontlines of a climate crisis it did not create. Agroecology is not just a farming method, it is an act of resistance, it is a way for African nations to declare their food sovereignty and refuse to be dependent on global supply chains that are fragile and, in most cases, exploitative.”
Professor Saa Dittoh, from conference host the University in Development Studies in Tamale, called on West African nations to adopt viable agroecological strategies in their national political agendas. He said that West Africa lagged certain East African nations in that regard.
“The agroecological transition has immense potential, but it will depend on responsible science and strong local, national, and governmental movements. We have to lobby, and that’s why coming together to do this is very important.”
Professor Saa Dittoh, Agricultural Development and Food Systems Economist, University for Development Studies in Tamale (UDS) and Ghana Coordinator of CIRAWA
Over the next three days, policymakers and representatives from international organisations will join researchers and farmers for keynote speeches, workshops, and policy discussions.
Partners from Ghana, Cape Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, and Europe are taking part in the conference, which aims to foster dialogue and collaboration on agroecological transition in West Africa.
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