The Head of the Department of Animal Science at the School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Julius K. Hagan, has been elected President of the Ghana Society of Animal Production (GSAP).
The Society is an association of professionals made up of animal scientists in universities, research institutes, industry, the private sector, ministry, etc. It was established in 1987 to promote and champion the livestock and poultry industry in Ghana and beyond. It has membership in Ghana and other West African countries.
Professor Julius Hagan was elected the president of the Society to serve a two-year term (2025-2027) at the 3rd Joint GSAP/GASA Biennial Conference held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. The theme for the Conference was “The Role of Animal Agriculture in National Development in an Era of Artificial Intelligence.”
Other elected executives include: Dr Felix Sarkwa (Vice President, University of Ghana); Dr. Juliana Bawah (General Secretary, University for Development Studies); Dr. Bernard Ato Hagan (Assistant Secretary, University Energy and Natural Resources); Dr. Frank Idan, Financial Secretary, KNUST) and Dr. Antoinette Simpah Anim Jnr, (Treasurer, KNUST).
In his inaugural speech, Prof Hagan opined that "animal agriculture practice in Ghana is mostly done in the traditional way, where some farmers still allow their animals to roam to fend for themselves. Feeding, housing, selection and management of breeding stock, health management, and processing are done mostly manually with little or no use of technology".
He continued that "even though we are living in an era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital transformation, farmers are yet to tap into these technologies to enhance production. These emerging technologies are reshaping every sector of society, and agriculture, including animal agriculture, is no exception.”
Further, he indicated that "The critical question we must ask is: How can we harness AI to enhance animal agriculture for Ghana’s national development?"
Professor Julius Hagan concluded, noting that "the future of animal agriculture is not a choice between tradition and technology. It is a future where our rich heritage of farming merges with the power of artificial intelligence to build a Ghana that is food-secure, economically strong, and globally competitive".
He also urged participants in the conference to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that the livestock sector does not just adapt to the era of AI, but thrives in it, thereby unlocking the full potential of animal agriculture as a cornerstone of national development.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC