Damongo Agricultural College SRC Week Celebration Launched

The Damongo Agricultural College, a tertiary institution in the West Gonja District

has launched its annual SRC week celebration themed, “Agricultural Education- A

route to success”.

Damongo Agricultural College was first established in the year 1963 by three

Governments; the Canadian Government, Ghana government and the German government.

In retrospect, the school was called Damongo Farm Institute and it was started with

eleven (11) male students. They offered courses such as, Maths, English, Farm

Mechanisation and animal husbandry. The purpose was to train farmers and equip them

with farm equipment for farming in order to improve food production in the region.

However, prior to the establishment, in the year 1953, there was a policy to

involved all interested farmers in the three Northern Region to have a group farming

at Damongo in the West Gonja District, the initiation was therefore change to

training the farmers to become Field Officers.

In 1995, the name of the institute was change to Damongo Agricultural College and

the school was however fully managed by the Ghana government. The Institute

currently have a population of 169 students. The courses offered includes, General

Agriculture, which entails, Aqua-culture, Agri-business, Genetic and Animal breeding

and also rabbit rearing and bee keeping.

At the occasion, the West Gonja District Chief Executive, Hon. Adam Mutawakilu, in

his address, expressed his profound gratitude to both the administration and the

students of the Institute for their success chalked in the previous years.

He explained that, agricultural success is the heart of the nation; therefore,

both the old boys and the students should make sure they put their studies into

practice since their work is more practically based.

Hon. Mutawakilu, stated that, for agriculture production to be successful in the

district, there must be a good road. However, government have already awarded the

65km Fufluso- Damongo- Sawla road to be constructed.

He said, the contractors are putting up the various logistics to start physical

work, and the other ancillary work attached to the road includes, construction of

classroom block and 14 mechanised boreholes among others. The west Gonja hospital

accident unit will also be well equipped.

Moreover, Mr Ebenezer Tawiah the Principal of the College advised students to take

their studies serious and must make sure they take advantage of agricultural

opportunity wherever they found themselves.

He also exclaimed about the number of applicants they admit every year, explaining

that, the college administration admits only few applicants because of inadequate

infrastructure and accommodation. He therefore pleaded to the government to renovate

the whole school facilities in order to pave way for more applicants who want to be

educated in the agricultural sector.

He therefore pleaded with the government to come to their aid.

Finally, Mr Charles Boateng the SRC President, in his speech, highlighted on the

theme for the celebration. He said the celebration seeks to educate the general

public in the district on agricultural production by hosting radio programs and also

organising talk shows from specialist in the agricultural sector.

He also revealed that, the environmental condition under which their food was being

prepared is very alarming. He said on February 24th 2012, the college kitchen

collapsed; as a result the workers now prepare the meals in an open environment

exposing the food to danger. He therefore appealed to the government and other

organisations to come to their aid.

The College SRC is embarking on the cultivating of 3 acres of land for cowpea, maize

and soya beans production, in order to generate income to solve some of their

challenges like purchasing of siren and DSTV for the school.

Shallom Lumor

princesshallom@yahoo.com