Agri-Impact secures KNUST approval to deliver accredited short courses

Agri-Impact Limited has announced a partnership with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to deliver accredited short courses focused on equipping young people with practical skills for the job market.

Deputy CEO of Agri-Impact, Mrs. Juliana Asante-Dartey, disclosed the collaboration at the company’s Dinner and Awards Night, which climaxed the week-long Wrap-Up of the Young Agribusiness Professionals Program (YAPP).

“I’m happy to announce that KNUST has given us permission to run a short course program that is mainly focused on skills development for our young people. We just got the approval, and we are excited about it,” she said.

The initiative, to be implemented through KNUST’s Centre for Capacity Building and Innovation, seeks to institutionalise youth training and create a sustainable, structured, and accredited platform for capacity development.

Already, as part of the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Program, an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Agri-Impact Limited, the agribusiness firm has already training a number of young people in IT skills geared towards providing solutions to SMEs within the agricultural space as well as farmers.

A drone simulation unit named after CEO of Agri-Impact Limited, Daniel Fahene Acquaye is also being utilized to train young Ghanaians into drone pilots who would in turn offer drone spraying services to farmers.

Mrs. Asante-Dartey also used the occasion to highlight Ghana’s growing youth unemployment challenge. She noted that over 300,000 graduates enter the labour market each year, yet only about 10 percent secure jobs within their first year. She emphasised that workplace-based training initiatives such as YAPP are critical in addressing this gap by offering mentorship, practical exposure, and employable skills.

Under YAPP, interns, national service personnel, and young recruits have received tailored training in areas such as CV reviews, mock interviews, public speaking, office etiquette, and IT skills. These, she explained, are designed to prepare participants for the competitive job market while nurturing leadership potential.

The awards segment of the evening recognised outstanding National Service Personnel for their creativity, leadership, and commitment. Mrs. Asante-Dartey stressed that the honours were more than tokens of appreciation, describing them as a call to excellence and a reminder that time spent with Agri-Impact was an investment in each participant’s future.

She encouraged young professionals to step forward with confidence, embrace lifelong learning, and commit to excellence, while also challenging them to not only seek jobs but to create opportunities, become leaders, and blaze new trails in agribusiness and beyond.

The event, held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence & New Beginnings,” brought together Agri-Impact’s partners, staff, national service personnel, and key stakeholders in agribusiness.