ACTIVATE, Maphlix partner to empower youth in agriculture
The Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agricultural TVET (ACTIVATE) initiative has partnered with the Maphlix Agricultural Training Institute (MATI) in Dawhenya to offer hands-on agricultural education and entrepreneurship training to young Ghanaians.
This five-year program, running from 2024 to 2028, is led by WUSC Ghana in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation. It aims to rebrand agriculture as a profitable and sustainable career choice for youth by equipping them with technical and business skills, access to land and finance, and post-training opportunities.
During a recent visit to the MATI facility, Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamassah, MD/CEO of Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited and President of the Institute, welcomed the ACTIVATE project team. He guided the delegation through the institute’s practical training model, which takes students through the full agricultural value chain from training and input provision to planting, harvesting, marketing, and profit reinvestment.
“This model is designed not just to train but to transition young people into economically viable agriculture careers,” Dr. Kamassah explained.
The ACTIVATE team praised the training institute for its modern infrastructure and youth-focused curriculum. They described the facility as a model for agricultural transformation across the country and praised its ability to make agriculture innovative and attractive to young people.
The initiative is driven by three core pillars: reforming agricultural education, enhancing skills acquisition, and integrating trained youth into the workforce. The partnership with Maphlix brings these goals to life through immersive training that extends beyond the classroom. Trainees gain access to farmland, marketing support, and career incubation services.
One beneficiary, Alhassan Dramani Kennedy, a young trainee from Bole District in the Savannah Region, called the program “life changing.” He is currently enrolled in a five month course in agro development and resilient farming.
“Agriculture is the bridge between uncultivated land and unemployed youth. I plan to return to my community as a mentor and lead others toward sustainable farming instead of illegal mining. I want to treat crops with the same care I would give a human being,” he said.
The beneficiary encouraged fellow participants to stay focused and committed, calling the program a rare opportunity to be agents of change in their communities.
