News
GRATIS Foundation takes charge of rural tech centres from Govt
The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to promoting the adoption of appropriate technologies to accelerate national transformation and industrial development.
Delivering a speech on her behalf at the handing over of 31 Technology Solution Centres (TSCs) in Elmina, Deputy Minister Samson Ahi said technological support in equipment repairs, spare parts fabrication, and maintenance remains critical for successful industrialisation.
The 31 centres, established under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), were officially handed over to the GRATIS Foundation, which will operate and supervise their activities. The centres, located in various districts, aim to reduce machinery downtime and revenue losses while enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the handover reflects a continued national development strategy anchored on technology and a shift toward agribusiness, industrialisation, and technical training. She noted that GRATIS Foundation’s role is pivotal in offering responsive technology support to strengthen district-level manufacturing.
She highlighted government’s ongoing retooling of GRATIS Foundation’s engineering workshop, including the installation of a state-of-the-art Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine for precision engineering and advanced manufacturing. “GRATIS is gradually becoming Ghana’s national centre of excellence for technical innovation, rural industrialisation, and skills development,” she added.
The Chief Executive Officer of GRATIS Foundation, Dr Isaac Adaebsah, underscored the importance of the centres in supporting Ghana’s industrialisation efforts at the district level. He said the facilities will benefit thousands of artisans, fabricators, machine operators, and young entrepreneurs by offering affordable fabrication services, appropriate technologies, and business-enhancing training.
Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, also speaking at the event, called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to drive technological innovation. He raised concerns about financial barriers limiting farmers’ access to modern technologies and appealed for government intervention to make the centres’ innova
FROM DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH, ELMINA
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
