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‘Technical universities can develop country if aided in research’
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• Inset: A section of the participants
Technical universities have once again given the indication that they are capable of aiding in the accelerated development of the country when adequately assisted in their research work.
A collection of research findings which were on display at the 2nd Annual Applied Research Conference, held at the Accra Technical University (ATU) gave credence to this assertion.![• Professor Samuel Nii Odai [left] presenting an award to Dr Kenneth Fafa Egbadzor Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Professor-Samuel-Nii-Odai-left-presenting-an-award-to-Dr-Kenneth-Fafa-Egbadzor-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth.jpg)
The research findings on display at the conference which worn awards were, Baobab domestication initiative, construction monitoring with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and Characterisation of solar cell efficiency Under North-East Trade Winds Conditions.
Others were the exhibition of smart farm, manufactured drone satellite, fish smoker and pilot scale production and assessment of fuel from plastic waste.
The rest were analysis of skilled-based competence of selected garment firms in Ghana using the resource-based view (RBV) theory, and the effect of traffic congestion on productivity in Ghana: evidence from AtwimaNsabiagya Municipality, Ashanti Region.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (Corporation), Volta River Authority, Anointed Pillars Associates Limited, Ghana Gas, Kantanka SUV, Ace Medical Insurance.
President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minster of Environment Science and Technology, DrKwakuAfriyie, assured that the government would provide the relevant support to technical universities to produce graduates with employable and technological skills.
He said government was rejuvenating Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education by providing funding and infrastructural support, adding that the collaboration between technical universities and industry players would provide solutions to societal problems.
Prof Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST), Kumasi, in a keynote address, stressed that there was the need to develop biofuels and electronic cars to reduce environmental and ecological pollution, and promote the use of biodegradable waste to protect the environment.
The Vice Chancellor said utility models have played key roles in the industrial development of countries such as South Korea, India, Japan and Germany, and Ghana would not be an exception if the country’s innovative strategies embraced utility models.
She was of the view that with the right training, skills development, the right attitude and an enhanced entrepreneurial acumen inculcated into our graduates, the country would groom more employers rather than employees.
According to her, researchers should contrive ways of recycling waste into useful products, adding that their research work would only be relevant if geared to impact humanity positively.
The Vice Chancellor said entrepreneurship was an essential element for economic progress as it had established its importance in diverse ways. These included identifying, assessing and exploiting business opportunities, creating new firms and renewing existing ones by making them more dynamic.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Madam GiftyTwum-Ampofo, said the ministry held the view that TVET was a vehicle for development, and thus has invested in the development of infrastructure and human resources to help reap its benefits.
Dr Wilfred Anim-Odame, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Accra Technical University (ATU), who chaired the function said such conferences had been recognised globally as important platforms to unearth solutions to local and national problems relating to education, finance, engineering, health, environment, among others.
He urged participants to use their wealth of knowledge and experience to make the necessary recommendations that would help thenation to unleash untapped natural resources.
The Chairman of the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities –Ghana (VCTU-G), and the VC of Ho Technical University, Prof Ben Q Hoenyenugah in his introductory address, said the conference would serve as a bridging platform for industry-academia research collaboration towards creating home-grown solutions by using innovative technical tools.
Prof Samuel NiiOdai, the Vice-Chancellor of ATU said innovation depended on knowing the basic facts through research, and that research fueled innovation, adding that the conference provided a platform to share discoveries and make discussions that would lead to applying the discoveries to improve quality of life.
By Raymond Kyekye & Pamela Davordzie
African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030.
The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent.
Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure.
“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said.
Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.
“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said.
Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness.
“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said.
The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges.
Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.
In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.
He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.
According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.
He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.
Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.
He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
