President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing technical education in the country.
He said his government would continue to provide the required financial and logistical support to advance technical skills and entrepreneurship development.
President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he addressed the opening session of the Third Biennial Applied Research Conference of the Technical Universities of Ghana (ARCTUG-2024) underway at the Sunyani Technical University (STU).
The two-day ARCTUG-2024, on the theme “university, industry and government partnership for accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship for national development, is being organized by the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VC-TUG).
It is being attended by researchers from academia and industries in Ghana, Africa, and the international communities and government officials.
President Akufo-Addo asked the technical universities to actively engage in research partnerships and ensure that their research work was aligned with problem-solving catalysts and he urged the students to think freely and pursue entrepreneurial ambitions.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the substantial financial support provided for research and book allowances, amounting to over GH¢700 million since 2020. These investments, he said, are crucial for creating an environment conducive to scholarly investigation and innovation.
President Akufo-Addo emphasised the crucial role of STEM education in driving economic growth and societal progress. He noted that the rapid advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy present unprecedented opportunities.
To fully leverage these opportunities, the president stressed the need to equip the workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge.
Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, the Vice Chancellor of the STU, called for effective collaboration among researchers in helping to tackle the teeming youth unemployment in the country.
