Asaga calls for review of Chemistry education programme

Kumasi, March 2, GNA - Mr Moses Asaga, Member of Parliament for Nabdam, has urged university authorities to upgrade their courses in Chemistry for students to gain from its many industrial-related job opportunities. He said courses such as Industrial and Petrol Chemistry; Chemicals Marketing; and Production Management; should be considered as electives in the curricula.

Mr Asaga was speaking on the topic, "Chemistry, A tool for Economic Development", at the 10th Annual National Conference of the Ghana Students' Chemical Society (GSCS) in Kumasi, at the weekend. The conference under the theme: "Chemistry, Society and the Recent Discovery of Oil in Ghana", was used for stock taking and strategising for the future. The MP pointed out that the recent oil discovery in the country should be considered as a blessing, because an emerging oil and gas economy could create a bourgeoning petro-chemical and fertilizer sub-sector that would bring significant growth in the economy. This, Mr Asaga said, could in the long term drive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to about 12 per cent by 2015. He advised Chemistry students to endeavour to learn other courses in addition to their main course to enhance their chances on the job market.

Dr Osafo Acquah, President of the Ghana Chemical Society (GCS), announced that the Society was liaising with industries to facilitate internship of student chemists. Mr Benjamin Aggrey, President of GSCS, appealed to the government to invest in chemistry education to facilitate Ghana's bid to reach a middle-income status by 2015.