Kosmos Energy lures youth into agric

Oil giants, Kosmos Energy Ghana, has initiated a social investment programme to encourage the youth to go into agriculture.

Aimed at creating more jobs in the agriculture sector, the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC) is also expected to create an ecosystem that brings together researchers, entrepreneurs and participants in the agriculture value chain.

The Country Manager of Kosmos Energy Ghana, Mr Joe Ansah, said the initiative would help the country reduce its import bill on agriculture produce and increase exports.

He announced the work of the centre when the management of the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) led by its President, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, paid a courtesy call on the management of Kosmos Energy Ghana to strengthen ties between the two companies.

The KIC

The KIC was created by Kosmos to help Ghana build a brighter future by tackling some of the country’s key challenges. The KIC begins its work by choosing an area of focus from one of Ghana’s many different sectors.

In its first year, the KIC is turning its attention to agriculture – the largest sector in Ghana’s economy – where it will pursue and nurture the development of market-based solutions that address various development challenges.

Mr Ansah acknowledged that issues including inadequate financing, inadequate knowledge on international best practices in farming affected the locally cultivated export produce.

He said the centre would help address issues that crippled the agriculture sector, help increase yield and produce products that met international standard.

While commending the foundation’s initiatives, he stated that it was necessary to always leave a legacy that would contribute to the country’s development.

Agro processing

Ambassador Gbeho said the foundation had an agro processing and compliance forum initiative which began two years ago with its maiden forum held in London in 2014 and in Ghana, last year.

The forum focused on improving on the practices of the agricultural processing sector in Ghana.

He said information gathered from the forums would be channelled to the Kosmos Innovation Centre’s website for interested parties to access.

He said the data would in the long term not just have a good turn around for the agriculture sector in Ghana but also have a positive impact in sustaining the country’s economy.

Ambassador Gbeho urged Kosmos Energy to, as part of its corporate social responsibility, consider supporting some selfless individuals and organisations who had dedicated their life to selfless contribution to humanitarian acts.

Following the discussions, Kosmos Energy Ghana and Millennium Excellence Foundation have agreed to collaborate on agro-related initiatives that would help farmers make informed decisions on quality agriculture production.