Students and Management of the Animal Health and Production College (AHPC), Pong Tamale, have jointly called on government and stakeholders to restore allowances for agricultural college students, improve infrastructure, and create employment opportunities for graduates.
The calls were made during the official launch of the College’s 2026 SRC Week Celebration under the theme: “Safe Guarding Animal Health, Securing the Nation’s Future.”
Speaking at the event, the SRC President of the college, Mohammed Mudasiru, said veterinary and agricultural professionals play a critical role in protecting public health, ensuring food security, and supporting the national economy.
According to him, students of the institution continue to face several challenges, including inadequate accommodation, water shortages, poor lighting systems, insufficient classrooms, and lack of emergency transportation and healthcare facilities on campus.
He noted that practical lessons are also affected by inadequate transportation and insufficient animals at the school farm.
“Education cannot thrive comfortably in an unconducive environment,” he stated, while appealing to government, NGOs, investors, philanthropists, and political leaders to support the development of the College.
Mudasiru also advocated for the restoration of student allowances in agricultural colleges, stressing that many students are facing financial difficulties that negatively affect their academic performance and mental well-being.
He further urged government to prioritize employment opportunities for veterinary and agricultural graduates after school.
“It is worrying that several batches of graduates remain unemployed for years despite the critical role veterinary professionals play in safeguarding public health and food security,” he said.
Supporting the appeal, the Principal of the College Adam Nuhu Mohammed described the continued exclusion of agricultural college students from the allowance system as unfair, especially when allowances for colleges of education and nursing training institutions have been restored.
According to him, Ghana currently has only six agricultural colleges, making it financially possible for government to restore the allowances.
“It cannot be a financial problem. If government can pay allowances to the many colleges of education and nursing training colleges, then six agricultural colleges should not be difficult. What we need is political blessing,” he stated.
The Principal also expressed concern about the unemployment situation among agricultural graduates, saying the country risks compromising food security if trained professionals are neglected.
“We think if we compromise with agriculture, then we are compromising with food security,” he said.
He stressed that agricultural professionals deserve the same level of recognition and support as teachers and health workers because food remains essential to human survival.
“The same way we don’t want our children to educate themselves or our family members to self-medicate, farmers also cannot produce effectively without professional advice,” he added.
On infrastructure development, the SRC President announced that the current SRC administration has initiated plans to construct a 700-capacity auditorium for the institution.
He explained that procurement of materials for the foundation stage of the project is currently underway.
The Principal commended the initiative and revealed that preliminary works, including land clearing and acquisition of construction materials, have already begun.
Both Management and students appealed to the Municipal Chief Executive, alumni, NGOs, philanthropists, benevolent individuals, and other stakeholders to support the project either financially or materially.
The proposed auditorium is expected to host graduation ceremonies, matriculation events, SRC activities, and other major programmes of the institution.
The week-long SRC celebration is expected to feature activities such as cultural displays, volleyball competitions, inter-hall football games, quizzes and debates, health screening exercises, drama and talent exhibitions, rep-your-jersey activities, and an awards night.
The SRC President encouraged students to celebrate responsibly and maintain unity, discipline, and respect throughout the celebration.
By Nadra Mohammed
