KNUST to launch dairy company

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has concluded a partnership arrangement with Peak Investment Capital (PIC) to launch the country’s biggest dairy company in March, this year.

The partnership is to transform the yoghurt produced at KNUST into an international standard product and to promote research in the Dairy Beef Cattle Research Unit of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department of the university.

Subsequently, two flagship shops are being constructed on campus to be fully equipped with standardised machines and modern technology for the project to take off.

Inauguration

The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. William Otoo-Ellis, announced this at the inauguration of a seven-member board to oversee the partnership in Kumasi.

Members of the board, made up of four from PIC and three from the university, are to choose their own chairman after their initial meeting.

They are Mr Paul Karikari, Mr Richard Appiah-Nkyi and Mr Abdulai Saglo from the KNUST and Mr Kobina Tuyee Awuah, Mr Donald Djane, Mr Ato Ntsi Awuah and Ms Petrine Adwoa Addae, all from the PIC.

They will, among other things, help rebrand and make the product a nationally acclaimed and acceptable item and help it break into the global market.

Even before the official launch, a rebranded sample, Icycub, has taken over the market in Kumasi and gradually relegating the traditional ones to the background.

PIC

The Chief Executive Officer of PIC, Mr Tuyee Awuah, said the fully-owned Ghanaian company, with affiliations to some selected international food and dairy companies, would  bring on board expertise and resources to augment that of KNUST.

Mr Awuah said he and his colleagues, all from the Harvard University, were also roping in experts and food specialists  as well as researchers to partner KNUST.

He said the project was also to offer internship opportunities for students, especially those from the Food Science Department.