The Chief Executive Officer of the African Agribusiness Consortium (AAC) and Executive Director of the Jospong Group, Dr Adelaide Siaw-Agyepong, has described the return of 118 Ghanaian postgraduate scholars from Russia as one of the most fulfilling milestones in the Consortium's efforts to build human capital for Ghana's agricultural transformation.

Speaking at a Welcome Dinner and Awards Night organised programmes honour of the graduates in Accra on Saturday, August 1, 2026, Dr Siaw-Agyepong said the successful completion of the scholarship programme demonstrated the value of investing in people.

"When you impact people and see the fruitfulness of what you have done, it brings fulfilment. This event is spectacular and will remain indelible in my memory," she said.

Daily fuel price changes loom as bulk oil distributors shift to spot pricing

The event celebrated the first cohort of scholars who completed master's and doctoral programmes in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Russia's RUDN University under the AAC-RUDN scholarship initiative.

Dr Siaw-Agyepong expressed gratitude for the safe return of all 118 scholars and commended them for their commitment to applying their knowledge to Ghana's development.

She urged the graduates to complement their academic achievements with strong values, stressing that integrity and humility would determine their long-term success.

"Education is very important, but what will sustain young people is character. You can acquire many credentials, but without character, you will fail. Remain humble because character will take you very far in life," she advised.

She further encouraged the graduates to become ambassadors of excellence, mentor younger generations and use their expertise to transform Ghana's agricultural landscape.

She noted that the scholarship programme was conceived to produce a new generation of highly skilled agricultural professionals capable of driving innovation, increasing productivity and promoting climate-smart agriculture across the country.

The graduates specialised in agronomy, crop production, soil science, environmental management, agricultural engineering and biotechnology, fields expected to strengthen Ghana's agricultural sector and contribute to food security and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Jospong Group, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, revealed that the Group has significantly expanded its operations since the students left Ghana to pursue their studies.

"When these students departed for Russia, the Jospong Group was operating in only one foreign country. Today, we have expanded into 29 countries across Africa, creating even greater opportunities for these graduates to apply their expertise in transforming agriculture and food systems across the continent," he said.

He assured the graduates that AAC and the Jospong Group would continue supporting them through research, agribusiness ventures and practical projects aimed at strengthening Africa's food systems.

Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong also disclosed that preparations had already begun to sponsor the next batch of approximately 120 Ghanaian students to pursue postgraduate studies in Russia under the expanding partnership.

The scholars, in turn, expressed appreciation to the leadership of AAC and the Jospong Group for what they described as a life-changing opportunity. They pledged to use the knowledge and skills they had acquired to improve agricultural productivity and promote sustainable farming practices in Ghana.

The Welcome Dinner and Awards Night formed part of the broader AAC-RUDN Graduates Return and Reintegration Programme, which includes visits to AAC facilities, agricultural project sites and engagements with key government institutions to prepare the graduates for strategic roles in Ghana's agricultural sector.

ANAS/MA

Ghana's recovery due to superior economic management - Ato Forson