The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan paid a short visit to the CSIR-Food Research Institute on Wednesday 11th January 2017.

The objective of the visit was to get an update about efforts to promote the Vitamin A-rich nutritious, orange-fleshed sweet potato in Ghana specifically in the Greater Accra.

At the meeting the Director of the CSIR-FRI, Dr. Mrs. Mary Obodai, made a powerpoint presentation of the activities of the institute after which the Director-General of the CSIR Dr. Victor K. Agyeman gave a brief background about the collaboration between the CSIR and the International Potato Centre, a research-for-development organisation with a focus on potato, sweet potato and Andrean roots and tubers. Dr. Agyeman was concerned that our governments so far have not been committed to Science & Technology and hoped the new administration will be more committed, especially, to the Agricultural Sector. He expressed his appreciation to the former UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan, for his dedication to agriculture.

He was also hopeful that the successful implementation of the project would lead to more opportunities for future collaborations and continuous research for the benefit of the people of Ghana and world at large. “Let’s use S&T to wage war on poverty, hunger and diseases” he stressed.

It should be noted here that, in April 2016, the CSIR- Food Research Institute collaborated with the International Potato Centre (CIP) in organizing a fair on the use of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP). The fair focused on the use of potato puree in the making of bread and other products.

The successful execution of the programme gave birth to the collaboration on the continuous training in the technology as well as research. A drafted Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU), yet to be signed into a working document, requires the CSIR-Food Research Institute:

• To provide a suitable space within its facility for the set-up of a processing plant for the production of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato puree and other products.
• To use the equipment for training small-scale bakers on the use of OFSP puree for bakery applications and also train them on appropriate equipment, packaging, shelf-life, nutrition and Food Safety and provide technical back-stopping to them.

The OFSP project an initiative of the Annans started in April 2014 with the vision of Sustainable and inclusive market-driven approaches for Orange-Fleshed-Sweet Potato, to increase income and improve health through consumption of vitamin A- rich OFSP, especially in women and children in Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. The Bio-Fortified sweet potato (Orange Fleshed) is a source of energy as well as vitamin A in diet and helps to combat vitamin A deficiency which is responsible for blindness, increased susceptibility to infectious and impaired growth and development. The crop can be easily cultivated in the home garden and is income generating.

In a brief remark, Mrs. Nane Annan, wife of Mr. Kofi Annan expressed her excitement at the way the project was being handled and opined that “Research is of no use if it is not applied.”

The new CIP equipment for training were exhibited for inspection by Mr. & Mrs. Kofi Annan and their entourage.

At a Stakeholder luncheon at the Best Western Hotel, Accra, selected participants had the opportunity to provide brief updates on their achievements and vision for the OFSP business. The Director of the CSIR-Food Research Institute used the opportunity to express her appreciation for the relationship between the CSIR-FRI and CIP. She believed the period ahead offers a great opportunity to do more together and looked forward to continuing the excellent cooperation on research.