Dr. Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Builsa South, has commended President John Dramani Mahama’s substantial contributions to the education sector, highlighting a strategic vision to position research institutions as key drivers of national development.
A cornerstone of this vision, according to Dr. Apaak, is the allocation of GHS 50 million to the Ghana National Research Fund this year.
This significant investment is intended to deepen research and innovation across the country, with the objective of a gradual increase in the fund and ensuring its equitable, transparent, and merit-based disbursement to support impactful research across all disciplines.
The Deputy Minister and Builsa South MP made the remarks when he delivered the keynote address at the 8th International Conference on Applied Sciences and Technology (ICAST) in 2025.
“The objective is to gradually increase this fund and ensure equitable, transparent, and merit-based disbursement to support impactful research across all disciplines and also strengthen linkages between academia and industry.”
Dr Apaak indicated that the substantial investment signals a renewed focus on fostering a vibrant research ecosystem that directly contributes to Ghana’s growth.
He further noted that the government has adopted measures which will help bridge the gap from theory to practice through the strategy of transforming universities, particularly technical institutions like Kumasi Technical University, into dynamic hubs that bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application.
“Universities, particularly technical universities such as Kumasi Technical University, must serve as the intellectual bridge between theory and practice,” President Mahama asserted. We must produce not only degree holders but problem solvers, not only graduates but innovators.”
To achieve this, the government is actively supporting institutions willing to forge strong partnerships with industry, Dr Apaak announced.
The collaborations he explained will focus on co-developing curricula, facilitating student internships, providing real-time solutions to industrial challenges, and nurturing spin-off enterprises that translate academic research into viable business models.
He added that this will ensure that graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of the modern workforce and contribute directly to economic development.
Dr Apaak said Ghana also plans to have a future where we will integrate cutting-edge technologies into its educational and research landscape.
“We are working with global partners to integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into our teaching and research ecosystem,” President Mahama revealed.
He further added, “This innovation is just one example of how international collaboration, grounded in local realities, can produce cutting-edge solutions that are both scalable and sustainable.” This commitment to embracing new technologies and fostering international cooperation underscores the nation’s ambition to remain at the forefront of global innovation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
