April 11, 2013—Ghana needs a vibrant, thriving and growing agricultural sector to ensure food security, reduce poverty and develop its economy. Can improving the management practices in agribusinesses that provide the needed inputs and services for the sector and add value to its outputs vitalize the sector? The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) think so, and are partnering together to launch a four-week Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Programme, from April 15-May 10, 2013.
The four-week long programme will use conventional learning techniques for principles of good business practice and case studies as problem-solving tool. The curriculum comprises 11 modules covering all aspects of modern management techniques and practices. It includes five case studies of local agribusiness firms in Ghana to bring location-specific content into the course curriculum, and includes field trips and class projects to enable participants gain practical experience in managing agribusiness. The University of Ghana, The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore helped with curriculum development and programme delivery. The program is residential, with participants staying at the Executive Conference Center at the campus of GIMPA.
Target Participants: Mid-level personnel engaged in managing the food, feed, and agriculture system in the private sector, especially from companies seeking to make new or upgrade investments as well as a few from the public sector.
The launch of the event will take place on April 15 at the Executive Conference Centre at GIMPA from 9 AM and will include keynote address by Hon. Kofi Humado, Minister of Food and Agriculture, and opening remarks by Mr. Johnson Adasi, Director of SME & Technology, Ministry of Trade & Industry; Professor Franklyn Manu, Rector of GIMPA; Dr. Joe Taabazuing, course coordinator at GIMPA; and Dr. Shashi Kolavalli, Leader, IFPRI’s Ghana Strategy Support Program.
The sponsors of the program believe that good practice in agribusiness is vital for an efficient commercial agriculture and an efficient functioning of the food and fibre sector. It is the hope of the sponsors that the program will contribute to successful implementation of the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy and the Medium-Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan of the Government of Ghana.