By Linda Dede Nyanya Godji Incoom
Policymakers, researchers, farmers and development partners from Africa and Europe have converged in Accra to explore opportunities, challenges and practical pathways for advancing agroecology and strengthening sustainable food systems across West Africa.
The three-day CIRAWA Agroecology Conference, taking place from July 1 to 3, 2026, in Accra, has brought together participants from Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Cape Verde and Europe under the European Union-funded CIRAWA (Agroecological Solutions for Resilient Farming in West Africa) project. The conference is examining how science, indigenous knowledge and public policy can work together to build more resilient food systems across the region.
The conference was officially opened with a keynote address delivered by the Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Ghana, Alex Percival Segbefia, on behalf of Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
Delivering the Vice President’s address, Mr. Segbefia reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector through the promotion of agroecological practices as part of the country’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.
He said Ghana must move away from agricultural systems that are no longer delivering the desired results and embrace approaches that support sustainable food systems and long-term agricultural resilience.
Mr. Segbefia said government support would focus on promoting crop diversification, agroforestry, improved soil fertility and management through compost and other techniques, the production and use of biofertilisers and biopesticides, farmer-led irrigation, simple mechanisation systems and the local production of high-yielding seed varieties. The Vice President’s statement also stressed the need for Ghana to develop a national agroecology strategy to advance the transformation of the country’s food systems while contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals.
Delivering one of the keynote addresses, UNESCO Representative to Ghana, Edmond Moukala, described the conference as a historic meeting point where public policy, scientific innovation and indigenous knowledge converge to address one of humanity’s greatest challenges—feeding people while restoring the planet.
He noted that Africa remains on the frontline of a climate crisis it did little to create, stressing that agroecology is not merely a farming method but a pathway towards strengthening Africa’s food sovereignty by reducing dependence on fragile global food supply chains.
Professor Saa Dittoh, Agricultural Development and Food Systems Economist at the University for Development Studies (UDS) and Ghana Coordinator of the CIRAWA Project, called on governments across West Africa to incorporate agroecology into their national policy agendas.
He observed that while some East African countries have made greater progress in advancing agroecological policies, West Africa still has significant ground to cover.
According to him, a successful agroecological transition will depend on responsible scientific research and stronger local, national and governmental movements, adding that sustained advocacy and collaboration are essential to driving the transition.
Over the three-day conference, policymakers, researchers, farmers and representatives of international organisations are participating in keynote presentations, workshops and policy discussions aimed at strengthening partnerships and advancing agroecological transition across West Africa.
The conference also seeks to foster dialogue and collaboration among participating institutions from Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Cape Verde and Europe to accelerate the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the region.
The conference forms part of the broader CIRAWA initiative, which works with smallholder farmers to improve food security, nutrition, livelihoods and ecosystem health through agroecological approaches. Bringing together 16 partner institutions from nine countries, the project combines scientific and local knowledge to build more resilient food systems across eight regions in Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia and Cape Verde.
The conference continues until July 3 with high-level policy discussions, scientific exchanges and collaborative workshops expected to strengthen regional cooperation and support the transition towards sustainable food systems in West Africa.
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