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President Akufo-Addo said that his government's national development policy was based primarily on the need to ensure that science, technology and innovation operate in all sectors of the economy.
To achieve this goal, he explained that sectoral policies, programs and strategies were implemented on the basis of the overall national policy on science, technology and innovation.
That's why Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), responded to his call to action by developing a science and technology policy framework resting on seven pillars.
The president said that Monday when he delivered the opening address at the National Conference on Bridging the Technology Gap at Peduase Vally Resort in Peduase.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the first pillar stems from a commitment made in the 2016 Manifesto of the new ruling patriotic party that Science, Technology and Innovation will benefit from the constant attention of the president.
"By an instrument notice, I recently set up a Presidential Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (PACSTI) as an advisory body within the presidency, "he said.
The President continued:PACSTI, composed of eminent Ghanaian scientists from various fields, will advise the Chair on ITS issues and keep him fully informed of current developments in STI and their relevant applications for national development. "
The second pillar is the coordination all sectoral activities involving science, technology and innovation through an inter-ministerial coordination council for science, technology and innovation.
The Council's mandate emphasizes close collaboration between key ministries such as trade and industry, agriculture, aviation, education, energy, communications, business development, government sanitation and water resources, land and natural resources, roads and transport.
President Akufo-Addo said the third pillar recognized the need for a strong partnership between government, public research institutes, academia and science, and industry.
With the imminent establishment of the Ghana Center for Innovation and Commercialization of Research (GIRC-Center), the president said that this center would serve as a bridge between the government, public research institutes, universities and universities. ;industry. It will also provide incubation centers with the basic facilities that our innovators will need and add an additional perspective to the work being undertaken as part of the National Plan for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The fourth pillar, said the president, is based on the principle that funding for research and development (R & D) on science, technology and innovation, which is currently negligible, must be significant.
"That's why I promised that a minimum of 1 percent of Ghana's GDP would be allocated to R & D in the short and medium term, to reach 2.5 percent in the long run. I am determined that this promise be met, he badured.
Describing the fifth pillar as "a crucial element", President Akufo-Addo said that his Government attached great importance to the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at all levels. of the country's education system.
"The MESTI and the Ministry of Education jointly promote the teaching and learning of STEM across the entire educational structure of the country. STEM education will greatly enhance the impact of the Free High High School policy, "he added.
The sixth pillar states that the framework of the STI program must be supported by legislation enabling it to the teeth and ensure the continuity of its implementation.
According to President Akufo-Addo, an ITS Bill needs to be approved by Parliament to facilitate the implementation of STI policy and institutionalize statutory support for the policy.
The seventh pillar places a strong emphasis on the development of strategic technology areas such as agriculture and food processing; environment, waste management and circular economy; oil and gas sector; biofuels, green energy and energy storage systems; health and pharmaceuticals; information and communication technologies (ICT), with emphasis on 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robotics, micro-controllers and processors, and software engineering; financial technology (Fintech); mining and mineral processing; and manufacturing, based on precision machining and digital fabrication.
President Akufo-Addo said the ministry is working with the Ministry of Education to set up a foundry and control center for numerically controlled machine tools in Accra and Kumasi.
"These facilities will be used to make tools, equipment and instruments to support key sectors of the economy such as agriculture and industry. The goal of this initiative is to accelerate industrialization, help solve the problem of widespread unemployment in the country and generate wealth that will remain in the country, "he said.
With the full implementation of these policies, he was confident: "We will begin to see clearly the outlines of a Ghana Beyond Aid. It will be a prosperous Ghana, whose economy is run by an entrepreneurial and innovative private sector. This country will serve as a regional hub for financial services with full employment, a low poverty rate, a stable currency and low inflation. "
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