Inadequate infrastructure has denied qualified prospective students admission to Wenchi Agriculture College in the Bono region for the 2020/2021 academic year.

The Vice-Principal of the Wenchi Agriculture College, Anthony Boadu Tawia, who disclosed this at the maiden matriculation ceremony of the college, said only 152 students were admitted to the college out of 200 qualified applicants.

He stated that although the college was willing to admit more qualified students, the lack of facilities was a major hindrance.

“Our facilities are inadequate and should we increase the intake for the next academic year, the current infrastructure cannot contain them. So we are pleading with all well-meaning Ghanaians and NGO’s to come to our aid,” Mr Boadu Tawia stated.

In all, 120 students have been admitted to pursue a 2-year Certificate course in General Agriculture whilst 32 students will pursue Vocational Training in Agriculture.

Mr Boadu Tawia was however optimistic that the college will address the infrastructure deficit in the coming years to enable the teeming youth to acquire knowledge in general agriculture.

He also mentioned that the college aims to become an autonomous degree-awarding agriculture institution, in the next few years hence the need to get busy with upgrading all facilities.

The Director of Human Resource Development and Management Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Lawoety Tetteh, encouraged the students to focus on their studies and become great agriculture officers and entrepreneurs who will change the fortune of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

He added, “I urge them to conduct yourselves very well and refrain from acts that will tarnish the reputation of the college”. 

Mr Tetteh affirmed MOFA’s resolve to fast-track the infrastructural facelift at the college to make teaching and learning effective and conducive.

Akyeamehene of Wenchi Traditional Council, Nana Damoah Koasane Adusi Poku Kofabae IV, assured the traditional council’s readiness to release parcels of land to the college for future development.

Wenchi Agriculture College was established in 1964 as Wenchi Farm Institute. It was mandated to train the Youth in Vocational Agriculture to feed the Ministry of Agriculture and related organisations as Technical and farm Assistants.

The mandate later expanded to include the training of prospective farmers, farmer-based organisations and community-based organisation in appropriate modern farming techniques and methods.

This is to enable them establish their own farms as well as take responsibility as agribusiness practitioners for improved livelihood.

At the later part of 2020, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, gave the green light for Wenchi Farm Institute to be converted into full agriculture college.

Wenchi Agriculture College becomes the seventh agriculture college in Ghana.