The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Samuel Nii Odai has called on government to develop a science and technology strategy to accelerate the development of the country.
He said Ghana’s deteriorating economy has placed it behind countries like South Korea, Singapore and others “it started life with.”
According to Prof. Odai, every nation aspiring to make meaningful and sustainable progress in this era, has to develop a clear vision for science and technology.
“While our technology focused on producing for consumption, technology in South Korea and the other countries aimed at wealth creation and thus their developed economies and improved livelihoods,” he said.
Prof. Odai while making a keynote address at the launch of the KNUST Alumni Congress said South Korea, after the Korean War in 1953, a period around which Ghana had independence, had a GDP of Sixty-seven US Dollar (US$ 67) with only two universities just as Ghana.
He indicated that South Korea as at 2004 had registered 411 higher educational institutions made up of 61 public and 350 private tertiary institutions.
“This could be done and best sustained when there was a technology vision bearer. The vision bearer identified gaps that needed addressing, and thus, helped the nation keep pace with the identified technology, or even go into technology commercialization for wealth creation,” he said.
Prof. Odai said technocrats in the country also have a role to play by getting involved in the strategic planning, policy development and implementation in the country.
By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana