A delegation from the Ghana University Movement for Agroecology (GUMA) of the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of SDD-UBIDS, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile on May 19, 2025, at his office. The visit was to discuss ongoing collaborations and also introduce a new student-led initiative.
The Team was led by Messrs. Bernard Guri, Executive Director and Daniel Banuoku, Deputy Executive Director of CIKOD. The enthusiastic intern-students were from Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who are spearheading the Ghana University Movement for Agroecology (GUMA) initiative. The Team was warmly received by the Vice-Chancellor, supported by and the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Issaka Osumanu Kanton, and the Registrar, Mr. Job Asante.
In his remarks, Mr. Banuoku acknowledged the pivotal role Professor Derbile has played over the years in promoting endogenous development in the Upper West Region and beyond. He highlighted the Vice-Chancellor’s early contributions to traditional leadership development, capacity building for traditional authorities, and the mainstreaming of traditional governance in development processes. Mr. Banuoku expressed appreciation for Professor Derbile’s long-standing support for youth development and community-based transformation.
A key highlight of the visit was the introduction of the Ghana University Movement for Agroecology (GUMA), a student-led initiative aimed at promoting local food systems, agroecology, and the solidarity economy. The Movement emerged from the impactful internship experiences of SDD-UBIDS students at CIKOD, during which they contributed to projects focused on sustainable African food systems and awareness campaigns in schools in the Upper West Region on the consumption of local foods over ultra-processed alternatives.
Speaking on behalf of the interns, Mr. Gaanu Star Saa-Eru (President of the GUMA, UBIDS Chapter) and Ms Gyikay Gumenga Cindy (PRO/Media Relations) shared their motivation and vision for the initiative. They explained that GUMA aims to create a mindset shift among young people toward embracing and valuing local food systems and agroecological practices. Plans are underway to launch a school garden project on campus and to expand the movement to other institutions across the country.
The Vice-Chancellor warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed pride in the students’ initiative, commitment, and innovation. He noted that this marks a shift from traditional internship models to action-oriented engagement. He commended both CIKOD and the students for institutionalising such an initiative and expressed support for its formal launch and long-term integration into the university’s systems. He also proposed revisiting and formalising the then MoU which was signed between UDS and CIKOD to the current SDD-UBIDS and CIKOD to strengthen future collaboration.
Professor Derbile concluded by assuring the team of the University Management’s support, emphasising that such initiatives resonate with the University’s values on sustainable development and community empowerment.
Members of the GUMA, SDD-UBIDS, Student Team were:
- Gaanu Star Saa-Eru, President
- Malinne Linda Tiyalawir, Vice President
- Ankorle Mildred, Treasurer
- Dapilaa David, Vice Treasurer
- Amanda Yvonne Molil
- Gyikay Gumenga Cindy, PRO/Media
- Beteryel Franklyna, Secretary
- Abu Hamdan, Organiser
- Takyi Michael, Assistant Organiser