African Scientific Renaissance Day Observed in Ghana The Provost of the College of Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Prof. Aboagye Menyeh delivered a lecture on "The Role of Science and Technology for the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)" to mark the African Scientific Renaissance Day on 30th June 2005.The ATPS Ghana Chapter instituted the lecture as a way of solemnizing the reflections on scientific renaissance in Africa. This first lecture was held jointly with the College of Science of the KNUST in the Conference Room of the Great Hall of the KNUST in Kumasi. The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. K.K. Adarkwa chaired the lecture.Prof. Aboagye Menyeh went through the eight millennium goals and pointed to the relevance of Science and Technology (S&T) for achieving these goals. He reviewed the state of S&T in Ghana in terms of the physical infrastructure for S&T applications, the S&T human resource development strategies and the institutional and policy framework for S&T development. He noted that whereas there have been some public investment in building S&T institutions such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and KNUST, there seemed to be a low priority in developing the national capacity and applying S&T to national development. Besides the socio-cultural conditions prevailing in the country had been constraining factors in S&T development and application. He said this would not facilitate the achievement of the MDGs. He proposed that the government should show greater commitment to S&T development in the manner as experienced in the first republic soon after independence in 1957. At a time when students are opting for the Business, the Arts and Humanities rather than the sciences, there should be priority action on scientific manpower development.Even though the university was on recess, participation was fairly average with the lecturers and some of the post-graduate students being in attendance. During the discussion of the lecture, some participants commented that the lecture has educated them on the MDGs and that some were learning about these goals for the first time at the lecture. It was suggested that more education be done on the achievement of the MDGs.A meeting of the new Board of Trustees was held on 29 June 2005 at KNUST to precede the lecture. The Chairman of the Board Dr. Yaa Difie Osei a lecturer of the Biochemistry Department of the University of Ghana chaired this first meeting since the election of the Board. The meeting decided that for the observance of the African Scientific Renaissance Day in 2006, the Chapter should make efforts to organize a competition in scientific innovation for the second-cycle schools. The future of Science in any nation rests on the children and it is very important that interest is infused in them early. Awards would be presented on the day of the renaissance day. Other members of the Board who were present included Prof. Victoria Dzogbefia of KNUST, Dr. Komla Dzisi of KNUST and Dr. Anane Fenin of the University of Cape Coast. |
|