By Gifty Amofa, GNA
Accra, Jan. 29, GNA- Professor Fatima Denton, Principal Investigator and Director, United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), says Ghana’s development journey is entering a decisive transition phase where economic transformation, food security and climate action must advance together.
In her opening remarks at the end of a two-year Innovative for Clean Agricultural Technologies (INFoCAT) project implemented in Ghana, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire, Professor Denton noted that the initiative was timely and aligned with Ghana’s ambition to build a green, resilient and inclusive economy through sustainable economic growth, renewable energy development, green job creation for women and youth, and climate-resilient agriculture.
The workshop was to showcase sponsors, stakeholders, policymakers and beneficiaries on the achievements, findings, lessons, impacts as well as the scaling of the pilot project.
She said the INFoCAT initiative demonstrated practical pathways for strengthening food security while advancing low-carbon development, adding that UNU-INRA remained committed to supporting African countries through policy-relevant research, innovation and capacity development at the intersection of natural resources, clean energy and inclusive growth.
On clean agritech and Ghana’s Green Transition Agenda, Professor Denton said evidence from INFoCAT showed that clean energy-powered technologies could significantly reduce post-harvest losses, improve food availability and quality, increase farmer incomes and contribute directly to Ghana’s low-carbon economy goals.
She also highlighted the role of the initiative in promoting green jobs and economic empowerment for women and youth, noting that INFoCAT supported women- and youth-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), fostered green entrepreneurship in agritech and clean energy, and built skills linked to real market opportunities.
On policy alignment, Professor Denton said INFoCAT was strongly aligned with Ghana’s key national strategies, including the Energy Transition and Investment Plan, by advancing off-grid and decentralised renewable energy solutions for agriculture.
She said it also reinforced the Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agribusiness by enabling private sector-led, climate-smart agribusiness development.
Professor Denton called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s green transition delivered food security, created decent green jobs for women and youth and built a resilient, low-carbon agricultural economy.
She expressed appreciation to the founder, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and partner ENDA Energie for their support in driving the initiative forward.
At the event, winners from Ghana, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire received a total of 37,000 dollars as support.
In Ghana, Wobil Technologies Limited emerged first, while Villian Star Limited, represented placed second.
In Senegal, Moussa Ndoye Company took first place, followed by Ady M. Nissan Company in second position.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Lynays Company emerged first, while AD Solar placed second.
Dr. Ferdinando Tornyie, Research Fellow at UNU-INRA and Project Coordinator for the three countries, highlighted key challenges facing the agricultural sector.
Low mechanisation levels, with most land cultivation being manual, labour-intensive and characterised by drudgery.
Dr Tornyie noted that women occupied several levels of the agricultural value chain but often worked under strenuous conditions with long working hours.
He stressed the urgent need for innovative clean energy-powered agritech solutions to modernise the sector and expand energy access, adding that energy use in agriculture in Ghana was still dominated by fossil fuels and biomass.
In all, 20 innovators from Ghana, five each from Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire were shortlisted for the INFoCAT initiative challenge with USD 7,400 grant and the key element was renewable energy component.
GNA
28 Jan 2026
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong