The Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE) held its second annual national conference from 9-10 August 2018 on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in Kumasi. Hosted by the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension at KNUST, the conference brought together over sixty agricultural economists and agribusiness experts representing academia, research institutes and the private sector to present and discuss papers around the conference theme ‘‘Ghana’s Agriculture, Food Security and Job Creation”.
Through its Ghana Strategy Support Program (GSSP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IFPRI provided financial support for the event. Highlights include the opening address by Hon. Dr. Gyiele Nurah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and a former KNUST lecturer, as well as the launch of the GAAE’s inaugural Ghana Journal of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.
In his keynote address, Karl Pauw, IFPRI Country Program Leader, challenged agricultural economics and agribusiness students and researchers to venture beyond studies narrowly focused on production technologies, firm efficiency, and profits to also reflect on the role of agriculture and agricultural policies in developing value chains, strengthening food systems, and contributing to poverty reduction, improved nutrition and economic transformation in a sustainable manner. With a broader research agenda, students of agricultural economics and agribusiness can better position themselves to engage in dialogue with government and help steer the national agricultural policy agenda, which was one of the key recommendations from the event.
IFPRI extends its thanks to Prof. Saa Dittoh from the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale for his service to GAAE, both in his capacity as President of GAAE and Editor-in-Chief of the journal. We also congratulate Prof. Felix Asante from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) on his election as incoming President of GAAE. Finally, we congratulate the organizing committee on a successful conference, and wish to commit our support to Prof. Asante and the GAAE for future endeavors.