The Reaching Agents of Change (RAC) Project, a partnership between the International Potato Center (CIP) and Helen Keller International (HKI), hosted the workshop “Advocating for Investments on Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) in Ghana.” With the objective of developing a common understanding among participants of the benefits of OFSP activities in Ghana for combating Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), participants learned about OFSP and worked towards developing a Ghana-centric strategy to attract and utilize investments in OFSP.

Over twenty-five stakeholders and representatives gathered each day of the workshop. On Day 1, participants learned about the RAC Project and attended presentations on vitamin A deficiency in Ghana, the status of OFSP varieties developed for Ghana, value-addition opportunities, and the donor landscape for agriculture and nutrition development activities. The day closed with participants breaking into groups to develop preliminary investment objectives. Day 2 of the workshop consisted of participant deliberation, working towards a final set of OFSP investment objectives/targets for Ghana summarized as follows:

1. Policy advocacy to ensure OFSP’s inclusion in health & nutrition, agriculture, and education policies
2. Reduction of VAD occurrence in Ghana using OFSP, especially for pregnant and lactating mothers and children under 2 years (“ first 1,000 days”)
3. Development of OFSP value chains in Ghana
4. Raised awareness of the benefits of OFSP among stakeholders
5. Facilitation of effective partnerships across stakeholders and sectors

Before the workshop concluded, participants identified challenges and tips for moving forward, committed to remain actively engaged as part of a network and platform for advocacy, and volunteered their organizations’ commitments to OFSP advancement in Ghana.