Give priority to research and science education

The Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor William Otoo Ellis, has called for increased budgetary allocation for research and science education.

He said there was the need for the nation to show greater commitment towards aggressive promotion of science and technology because it was the path to development.

He cautioned that a country that refused to appreciate this reality would be doing so at its own peril.

It is the way to go to generate innovative ideas to fight the worsening poverty among the population.

Prof Ellis was speaking at the formal launch of the eighth biennial congress of the University’s Alumni Association “Teknokrats” in Kumasi.

The event would be held from October 16 to 19, under the theme “Transforming Ghana’s stunted development through appropriate application of science and technology – Teknokrats arise and build”.

The four-day congress would provide the platform for the alumni, leading scientists and technocrats to diagnose the country’s socio-economic, industrial and technological challenges and prescribe solutions.

It would also be used to raise funds to support the university’s on-going development projects.

Prof Ellis urged the alumni to take critical look at their own contribution to Ghana’s development effort, assess and find new approaches based on the dynamics of globalization and technological advancement.

He underlined the resolve of the university to continue collaborating with the alumni to sustain the growth of the institution.

Mr Tony Danklu, President of the Alumni Association, encouraged all members to actively participate in the congress.