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