The College of Basic and Applied Sciences organized a 3 day Conference from the 17th – 19th of February, 2016. The opening ceremony was held at the R.S Amegashie Auditorium of the University of Ghana Business School. The conference was under the theme “Science for Development: Ghana Asks, Legon Answers”. In his opening remarks, the Provost of the College, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu called on the government to make funding of science research a major priority since the field is facing a lot of challenges in terms of the lack of interest at the basic level, inadequate funding and lack of the requisite tools and equipment needed to make the necessary impact.
(Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony)
He made it clear that in order for the country to make progress in the field of science, technology and innovation, the College of Basic and Applied Sciences deemed it necessary to organize this conference to show that amidst all the challenges mentioned above Ghana still prides itself of people with the relevant knowledge and expertise to overcome the economic challenges that Ghanaians are grappling with. This he said will help build a great knowledge society that will eventually lead to a knowledge economy to stimulate industrial growth and development.
He emphasized that the vision of the University of Ghana is to become one of the forces to be reckoned with among tertiary institutions in Africa and the world at large when it comes to using research to promote, develop and drive industrialization and technology.
(Prof. Ebenzer Oduro Owusu, Provost, CBAS delivering his speech)
Professor Owusu recounted the desire of University of Ghana to excel in general academic field and to make it a hub for intensive and classical research which can be rated among the best in the world. This he said would enable the college to innovate new models for economic development and also create the enabling environment for multi- purpose development of Ghana as a whole.
He expressed the desire of the college to place itself strategically to provide leadership in science related fields through teaching and research, and to work hand in hand with other institutions for success.
To achieve this, he urged the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Hon. Mahama Ayariga to be motivated by the potentials present in the college to provide the necessary support and equipment for Laboratory work in order to facilitate teaching and research in the scientific field.
The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Hon. Mahama Ayariga stressed that government is in the process of setting up a venture capital fund for the research and development of scientific projects. He revealed that in addressing the disconnection between the scientific community and governmental institutions that were responsible for specific social and economic challenges, a chief scientific advisor would be posted to the various ministries to work in tandem with the ministers and give strategic and scientific advice when necessary. This he said, would be a more innovative approach in using scientific methods to address the developmental challenges facing the country.
(Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Hon. Mahama Ayariga delivering the keynote address)
Delivering the first plenary lecture on the topic “The Future of Science at the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana”, the Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, Professor Chris Gordon said that scientific research should be utilized in the innovation and expansion of industrial production to boost the economy and increase knowledge. He reiterated the need to train and nurture the youth of today in the area of science to ensure the continuous flow of knowledge.
Prof Gordon stressed that in order for scientific research to make a huge impact on the nation, there is the need for the assurance of academic freedom, creativity and innovation, promotion of high quality cutting edge research that will advance knowledge.
He noted that in order for the College to be a key stakeholder in scientific research, the college must be proactive, learn to communicate its research findings to policy makers and industry, be able to train and retain young and promising faculty and students to take over from the current faculty, involve all disciplines in its activities and above all to promote and encourage world class research whiles remaining relevant to the Ghanaian situation and continue to play its primary role as a training institution.
(Participant at the opening ceremony)
The Chief Executive Officer of Tropical Cables and Conductors Limited, Dr.Tony Oteng - Gyasi enumerated the achievements of science based inventions such as Fufu powder, Cocoa powder, Acqua culture, solar energy, palm oil etc. which are relatively inexpensive. This he said will go a long way to exhibit the importance and the need for scientific development in our institutions.
Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony were the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and innovation Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Chief Executive Officer of Tropical Cables and Conductors Limited, Dr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Provost, College of Humanities who represented the Vice Chancellor, Deans, Directors and Heads of departments of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
Thematic/Scientific Sessions were held at the Auditorium of the Centre for African Wetlands.