"We must be less dependent on foreign influence" – Akufo-Addo

General News on Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Source: New crusade guide

2019-01-22

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said that the time had come for Ghana to develop policies that would make it autonomous, less dependent on foreign capital, technology and influence.

According to him, his vision is in line with this agenda and Ghana's development policies can no longer depend on the support that the technologically advanced world can provide.

President Akufo-Addo noted that too dependent foreign aid has never worked and that it will not work.

At a conference on reducing the technological divide at Peduase Valley Resort yesterday, under the theme: "Bridging the technology gap towards" Ghana beyond help "and the employment of youth."

Nana Akufo-Addo said "that it is important to say that we can no longer continue to develop policies for our country on the basis of any support that the technologically advanced world can bring us." not work and it will not work. "

He said his vision of a "Ghana Beyond Aid" was to build a strong and robust economy, capable of generating a dignified and prosperous existence for his people and to banish the scepter of poverty, baderting that his administration, through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has developed a scientific and technological framework based on seven (7) pillars.

According to the president, this political agenda will help bridge the technological gap between Ghana and the rest of the world.

He explained that science, technology and innovation would receive constant attention from the government and that a Presidential Council on Science, Technology and Innovation (PASTI) was created as an advisory body to advise the president on issues related to science, technology and innovation.

He also mentioned the coordination of all sectoral activities involving science, technology and innovation through an interdepartmental coordination council on science, technology and innovation, while recognizing the need for a strong partnership between the government, public research institutes, the academic and scientific community. industry.

The President also indicated that raising funds for research and development to a significant level would be considered, with a minimum of 1% of Ghana's GDP applied to research and development in the short and medium term and raised to 2.5 % long-term.

"The fifth pillar is to target a more literate society through education. The sixth pillar is that legislation relating to the country's science, technology and innovation program must receive legal support. To this end, a bill is being drafted and will be submitted to Parliament for approval. The last pillar is strongly focused on the development of strategic technology areas. Critical technology areas critical to the country's development will be targeted. "

For his part, the president of the Ghana Institute of Engineers, Steve Amoaning-Yankson, remarked in his welcome address that the foreign expertise coming to the country to propose technological solutions that can be managed locally by the Ghanaians was to be interrupted if the country was serious. bridge the technological gap between it and the rest of the world.