The Anlo Dukor Council has expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for approving the conversion of the Ohawu Agricultural College into a campus of the University of Agriculture and Engineering.

The decision has been described as a landmark development with far-reaching implications for educational advancement and socio-economic transformation within the Anlo State and the wider Volta Region.

The Council expressed its appreciation, through the Anlo Youth Council and the Central Planning Committee of the Anlo Hogbetsotso Festival, and the gratitude was announced by Awadada Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, who also serves as Chairman of the Hogbetsotsoza Central Planning Committee.

Togbe Awusu expressed gratitude in an official press statement, in which the Anlo Dukor Council, said the approval fulfils a commitment made by the President during the 2025 Hogbetsotsoza Festival celebrations, where he indicated his intention to support the transformation of the institution.

The Council noted that the realisation of this pledge reflects the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, expansion of tertiary education, and balanced regional growth.

The Council outlined that the change of institution is expected to significantly enhance development outcomes.

The outcomes include an expansion of access to tertiary education within the Volta region and beyond, promotion of research and innovation in agriculture and engineering, creation of employment opportunities for young people, stimulation of local economic growth and infrastructure development within the Anlo enclave.

The initiative is also expected to position the region as an emerging hub for academic and technical excellence in agricultural and engineering disciplines.

The Anlo Dukor Council expressed appreciation to key government officials and stakeholders who contributed to the realisation of the project. These included Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, and Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, for their instrumental roles in facilitating approval and supporting the broader development agenda.

Special recognition was also given to the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, for his sustained advocacy and commitment to advancing educational development in the constituency, which the Council said significantly contributed to the successful realisation of the initiative.

Togbi Awusu II indicated the readiness of the traditional authority to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the running of relevant programmes.

“In furtherance of this transformative development, the Anlo Dukor expresses its readiness to collaborate with Government, academia, and industry partners to position the institution as a centre of excellence in modern agricultural innovation,” the statement said.

It added that “In particular, we propose the introduction of specialised programmes in viticulture and oenology (wine production), rice and aquaculture and other courses that have the potential to transform Ghana and Anlo Dukor at large. This presents a unique opportunity to diversify agricultural education, promote agro-processing, and unlock new value chains within the region.”

These interventions, the Council noted, present a strategic opportunity to diversify agricultural education, enhance youth empowerment, and drive agro-industrial development within the region and beyond.

The elevation of the Ohawu Agricultural College into a full university campus featured prominently during preparations for the 2025 Anlo-Hogbetsotso Festival.

According to the Anlo Dukor Council and the Awomefia’s Palace, the initiative was expected to enhance access to agricultural education while positioning the area for increased investment and future development opportunities.

The matter also gained prominence during the official launch of the 2025 Hogbeza celebrations, which was strategically held at the campus of the Ohawu Agricultural College. That event was attended by the Regional Minsiter, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, and a representative of the Minister for Agriculture, who all served as guests of honor alongside other government officials and traditional leaders.

Subsequent engagement has been held since that time to facilitate the realisation of the aim.

The Ohawu Agricultural College, established in 1964, is a diploma-awarding institution located at Ohawu in the Ketu North Municipal Area of the Volta region. The college offers programmes designed to develop middle-level manpower for Ghana’s agricultural sector.

University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences in Bunso, Eastern Region, Ghana, is scheduled to open in October 2026 to foster specialized education in agriculture and technology. The project, which is over 95 per cent complete and will feature Schools of Engineering and Agriculture, offering courses like Industrial, Computer, and Agricultural Engineering, will also have satellite campuses across the nation.

Togbi Awusu said the intervention aligns strongly with the broader development aspirations of the Anlo people, particularly in the areas of education, youth empowerment, agro-industrialisation, and economic transformation.