President Mahama Commends ACE Centres at UG for Contributions to Food Security and Health in West Africa
President H.E. John Dramani Mahama has used the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) programme to commend the outstanding contributions of the three World Bank-supported ACE Centres at the University of Ghana.
Making the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2025 ACE Forum held at the Labadi Beach Hotel, President Mahama acknowledged the crucial role of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) in advancing research and innovation in food security, health and genomics in West Africa.
‘WACCI has become a key player in enhancing agricultural productivity across our region. It focuses on improving crop varieties and empowering local farmers to advance training in crop improvement and has made significant strides in our collective efforts to address food security in our sub-region. The Centre has also trained numerous highly trained graduates who are now leaders in agricultural research, positively impacting food systems in Ghana and across the broader West African sub-region,’ Pres. Mahama noted.
He further described WACCBIP as a ‘beacon of scientific research and innovation in the health sector.’ Pres. Mahama continued by lauding the Centre’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘WACCBIP’S role in research and testing was invaluable, further cementing its place as leading research institution.’ He also acknowledged the Centre’s ‘training of a diverse pool of scientists who have played a pivotal role in advancing diagnostic tools and therapeutic methods especially in the fight against emerging diseases.’
President Mahama shared in Ghana’s pride of hosting WAGMC, ‘which stands out as a pioneer in genetic research and counselling services.’
‘As the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, WAGMC has made remarkable progress in tackling health issues such as sickle cell genomes. Through innovative and diagnostic records and personalised care, its efforts in promoting genetic testing and awareness have been transformative particularly in Ghana where genetic health challenges are of major concern,’ he added.
He acknowledged these ACE centres for ‘fostering cutting-edge research and innovation as well as training the new generation of African scientists, positioning Africa as a key contributor to academic research and research advancement.’
He expressed the need for complimentary funding with increased national investment, institutional resource mobilisation and stronger linkages with industry.
About WACCI
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) is a partnership between the University of Ghana (UG) and Cornell University, USA that was established in June 2007 with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at the University of Ghana to train Plant Breeders in Africa working on the improvement of African crops train in local environments for farmers in Africa. The Centre has expanded its scope to train Scientists in Africa.
The Centre in 2015 expanded its scope to include an MPhil in Seed Science and Technology. This is in response to the growing need for experts and professionals and a well- structured seed industry in the West African sub-region in 2015 under the World Bank-ACE Project, WACCI in collaboration with the Seed Science Centre at Iowa State University, USA launched an innovative Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme in Seed Science and Technology aimed at addressing the challenges facing the seed sector in Africa.
About WACCBIP
The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) is one of the World Bank’s African Centres of Excellence (ACE) at the University of Ghana, led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) at the University of Ghana.
The Centre has a mandate to provide Masters, PhD and postdoctoral training, as well as targeted short courses in Cell & Molecular Biology, and to conduct applied research into Biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases, with the aim of increasing research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among Biomedical Scientists and industry leaders across Africa.
About WAGMC
WAGMC was established in 2019 through funding from the World Bank. Faculty of the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana (UG) proposed establishing the Centre to address Sickle Cell Disease, which is a major Development Challenge in this region of the world as well as other genetic disorders acquired through somatic mutations.
WAGMC offers postgraduate programmes and courses targeted at postgraduates and early-career professionals.