Consultative workshop on draft national policy in science and technology

Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - A national consultative workshop to solicit views for a national science, technology and innovative policy was held in Accra on Friday.

The policy is aimed at making Ghana a middle income economy in the shortest possible time, facilitate the mastering of scientific and technological capabilities and create conditions for the improvement of scientific and technological infrastructure for research, development and innovation.

The 44-page draft policy identified issues concerning human resource promotion, natural resources science acculturation and information and communication technology.

Professor Jerome Siau Djangmah, Former Chairman of West African Examination Council said the existing policy was adopted as a national document in 2000 but was not implemented.

He said advances in science and technology with wide applications such as innovations in Information, Communication and Technology and internet applications as well as emerging trends in biotechnology and nanotechnology make it imperative for Ghana to view the science and technology policy. Prof. Djangmah said currently the status accorded science and technology in Ghana was low in the eyes of policy makers and managers of the nation's resources.

He pointed out that this had resulted in the inadequate allocation of the nation's budget to science, technology and innovation. "Without industries to use the talents and skills of bright young men and women who opt for science at school, their attraction was for medicine and related disciplines rather than the hard sciences of physics, mathematics, technological and engineering based professions," he said. Prof. Djangmah said over the years there had been re-structuring and re-organisation of the Ministry responsible for science and technology to address specific development challenges.

He said one of the strategies for the implementation of the policy was to ensure that by 2020, 60 per cent of all students in the public universities and 80 per cent of those in the polytechnics and vocational institutions were registered in science and science related disciplines. Prof. Djangmah said another strategy would be promoting post-graduate education in scientific disciplines, targeting 10 per cent of the students in tertiary educational institutions and enrolling post-graduate students. Ms. Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment Science and Technology said the Ministry would establish a science and technology board to ensure that issues discussed were included in the policy.

She said it would in addition organise a science congress bi-annually and recognise personalities that contributed to the development of science and reward them. Ms Ayittey noted that a national science trade fair would be organised to showcase the country's resources. 20 Nov. 09