The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has disclosed that government is committed to developing the human capital base in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
This was made known in a speech that was delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour, this week, Tuesday to climax the 10th anniversary celebration of the African Institute for Mathematical Science (AIMS) Ghana, in honour of the late Professor Francis Allotey.
Addressing the gathering under the theme: “Developing versatile and innovative STEM leaders for Africa’s scientific excellence and socio-economic development”, the Minister noted that this will give way for Ghana to be competitive and economically stable.
He continued that Prof Allotey was and is still an asset and a treasure not to Ghana only but to Africa and the entire world as his contributions to Science globally were enormous, and there is a need to honour him and ensure his legacy never fades.
“The 4th Industrial Revolution centered on technology and innovation, and now the trade dynamics are based on High Tech exports”, the minister stated.
According to the Minister, his outfit has been tasked by the President to ensure that the manpower base for research and manufacturing in technology is built.
The late professor, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum noted, pioneered Computer Science education in Ghana at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was a founding patron of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and also led the establishment of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.
“He was an ardent advocate for science education in Ghana and Africa. He believed that Science is an essential means of meeting society’s need for food, water, transport and communication, energy, a good environment, healthcare, shelter, safety and poverty alleviation,” he added.
It is in this light that the Minister assured that the government is committed to supporting this public lecture series which hopefully will be organised annually.
“We are committed to supporting the activities of AIMS Ghana and other research institutions. We believe that AIMS can help bridge the gap in Mathematics education, where the subject is seen by many as the most challenging course.”
The Chief Executive Officer of AIMS Ghana, Lydie Hakizimana in her address also reinstated the importance of Mathematics, saying it is fundamental to how we understand nature, the larger universe with time and space dimension.
To her, the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded everyone of the essential role of Mathematics in addressing the world’s most pressing problems in the face of articulating global change.
Her outfit, she stated, is in the best position to scale up its program and initiative to attract more talented young people, the private sector and the government, as they collectively work towards enabling inclusive arts to quality and world class education.
