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Science and Technology should take
centre stage of development -Osafo Maafo
Kumasi, Oct. 02, GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Minister
of Education, Science and Sports, on Monday said science and
technology should take the centre stage of the country's
socio-economic development.
He noted that authorities of Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST), the nation's premier science
and technology tertiary institution should take the centre
stage and lead in the country's development agenda.
Mr Osafo Maafo made the observation at the launching of the
36th annual week celebrations of Ghana Engineering Students
Association (GESA) at KNUST in Kumasi.
Professor Kwesi Andam, immediate past Vice Chancellor of
KNUST and Mr Osafo Maafo, both engineers were honoured for
distinguishing themselves in their fields and contributing
towards the country's development and engineering.
Mr Osafo Maafo, who is also an aspirant of the NPP flag
bearer, stressed the need to shift emphasis on the country's
educational system in favour of science and technology to
speed up the desire to attain a middle-income status by
2015.
Speaking on the topic "reconciling the technocrat and
technician to accelerate national development", Mr Osafo
Maafo said more should be done in science and technology to
harness their full potential and benefits for national
development.
He expressed concern about the uneasy calm and tension that
existed between technocrats and technicians in engineering,
which had resulted in the formation of Ghana Institution of
Engineers.
Mr Osafo Maafo said there was the need for technocrats and
technicians to see themselves as complementing the role of
each other in national development.
Mr Osafo Maafo, who is also Member of Parliament for Akim
Oda, stressed the need for recognition of the role of the
technician and review of their training to ensure they
upgrade themselves to become technocrats.
He said the new educational reforms sought to shift emphasis
in favour of technical education and Information,
Communication and Technology (ICT) and called for concerted
efforts to ensure it succeeds.
Professor Andam said the future of Africa and Ghana depended
on science and technology; therefore there was the need for
leaders to prioritise and promote its development.
He called on African leaders to place more emphasis and
provide the needed resources for science and technology to
speed up the development of their countries.
Professor Andam appealed to Ghana Institution of Engineers
to resolve the differences that existed between technocrats
and technicians.
Professor W.O Ellis, Pro Vice Chancellor of KNUST, commended
Professor Andam and Mr Osafo Maafo for their distinguished
services to the country.
He said their awards would motivate students to work hard in
their endeavours.
Professor Ellis called for the full integration of
technocrats and technicians into national development
agenda.
GNA
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