Ghana and Rwanda to collaborate on tire production

Company News of Saturday, April 27, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-04-27

Dr. Frannie A. Léautier, Chief Operating Officer of the Bank for Trade and Development, urged Ghana and Rwanda on Friday to collaborate in the production of truck tires as part of efforts to accelerate the socio-economic development. of Africa.

She said the rubber produced in Ghana combined with the cow fat produced in Rwanda could produce high-performance car tires to power the Kigali driverless car manufacturing plant.

She said the value chain would provide markets for livestock and rubber producers and create jobs for tire manufacturing plant workers, car badembly plants and jobs for all players in the logistics industry. the supply chain.

Dr. Leautier made this call to Accra at the first "Alexander Speakers Lecture Series Adum Kwapong: Nature Speaks", a new initiative co-organized by the United Nations Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU -INRA) and the University of Ghana (UG). ).

The conference was in the honor of the late Professor Kwapong, Ghana's first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG) and First Vice Rector of the United Nations University of Africa.

The conference on "Innovation, Infrastructure, Technology and the Promise of New Growth for Natural Resource Management in Africa – Blind Alley or Transformational Change" was chaired by Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice Chancellor of # 39; UG.

Mr. Léautier said rubber producers needed soil tests to ensure the proper use of land for planting, adapting seeds to soil and weather conditions.

Other needs include the mixing of fertilizers to meet the needs of the soil and the plant, as well as services including the dissemination of knowledge and ideas, financing services (credit, guarantees, insurance) and support for marketing.

She added that ranchers would however need a good soil for growing grbad for grazing, pointing out that the markets for animal feed production, transport logistics and Procurement and financial services are essential.

Dr. Leautier explained that the science, technology and innovation needed at each stage of the value chain allowed for a scaling up of productivity.

She added that trade between Rwanda and Ghana must also be organized so that these markets and supply chain links are realized.

Dr. Léautier paid tribute to Professor Kwapong for leading the education and dissemination of knowledge not only in Africa but also around the world.

Professor Owusu also congratulated Professor Kwapong for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge and learning within and beyond the walls of this university.

The Vice Chancellor said Professor Kwapong's lecture series was a timely initiative that could make a significant contribution to their efforts as academics and researchers to narrow the gap between African scientific production and research strategies. development of Africa.

He said, "Platforms like this one are essential for bringing local science to our people's reach and service.

"I consider UNU-INRA's Professor Kwapong lectures as a support to the UG's mission, which is focused on creating a supportive environment that makes the university and university its constituents increasingly relevant to national and regional development through cutting-edge research, teaching and training. learn, he says.

Ms. Patricia Appiah-Agyei, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said that the Kwapong Lecture Series was written in the context of 39, a country determined, more than ever, to continue a program of rapid transformation.

She said it was wise to define new paths of development and take advantage of the opportunities offered by science, innovation and technology.

She said that tangible evidence of this commitment was the decision to devote 1% of GDP to research and development.

Ms. Opokua Kwapong, one of the late Dr. Kwapong's six daughters, expressed her gratitude to the UG and UNU-IRA for paying tribute to their father during the lecture series.

Ms. Kwapong, is Vice President of Research and Development Pepsicle Incorporated in the United States.