In a bid to create a modern economy driven by a constant stream of technological innovation, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) had adopted strategies to bridge the technology gap.
This expected to help build a more sustainable, resilient and agile modern economy, that generates dignified employment for the youth.
Presenting the strategies, which were developed during the Institution’s Conference, at a media encounter held on Wednesday, Ing. Dr. Kwame Boakye said the expectation of the Conference is that by 2025 Ghana would have achieved the capacity for technology-embedding industrialization.
This should enhance domestic design, innovation and the manufacturing of essential industrial components as well as implements and machinery for cultivation and processing for the agricultural industry.
The targets include earth moving and land preparation equipment such as buckets and accessories and the local fabrication and assembling of increasingly significant components of future FPSOs for the oil and gas industry.
In order for the country to be able to bridge the gap, the Conference adopted a declaration which would serve as broad guidance for progressing action, which includes the creation of an enabling environment is critical for the mastery and deployment of technology and its application for employment generation.
Dr. Boakye said this calls for a cohesive and coherent national agenda for promoting and supporting manufacturing in general and technology entrepreneurs in particular which requires risk taking and the accompanying appropriate incentives.
The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) will collaborate with its partner, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Ghanaian Practitioners in STEI located both here in Ghana and in the Diaspora, as well as other stakeholders in establishing the Technology Design and Manufacturing Centres (TDMCs).
The Centres will support national research institutions, universities and industry to contribute towards helping bridge the technology gap in Ghana. The first pilot TDMC is to be established under the leadership of GhIE.
By Joshua W. Amlanu