Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum,
Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has affirmed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s commitment to sustain and advance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education as a means of transforming Ghana into a leader in innovation.
Speaking at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) graduation ceremony in Tarkwa, where 31 of his sponsored students received degrees in various engineering programmes, Dr. Adutwum cited Dr. Bawumia’s leadership in digitalisation as evidence of his commitment to innovation and education.
“I have no doubt in my mind, given his pedigree in the digitalisation space, that championing the STEM agenda is a matter of course,” Dr. Adutwum stated.
“Digitalisation and STEM are symbiotic. To digitalise, you need a critical mass of people who can develop digital tools. The continuation of STEM under his presidency will ensure this cycle of innovation thrives,” the minister said.
He called for a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including universities, to build a critical mass of STEM professionals ready to tackle the nation’s challenges with innovative solutions.
“STEM is the future,” he said, and continued, “We must innovate ourselves out of poverty and create a prosperous Ghana. Under Dr. Bawumia’s leadership, this vision can become a reality.”
Catalyst
Dr. Adutwum emphasised that STEM education is critical in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where knowledge and innovation drive global economies.
Citing South Korea’s success in championing STEM education in the 1970s, he urged Ghana to follow suit to achieve socio-economic transformation.
“In this knowledge economy, STEM equips individuals to look at age-old problems with a fresh perspective, bringing innovation to resolve challenges facing our continent. It’s about breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and replacing it with a virtuous cycle of prosperity,” he said.
According to him, STEM education will ensure Ghana’s participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, an era defined by the integration of digital, physical, and biological systems.
He urged the graduates to recognise the significance of this revolution and Ghana’s need to actively drive it.
“We cannot afford to be mere observers in this Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said. “We must be active participants and drivers of this change.”
“You were not created to be average citizens,” he remarked and added, “Invest in yourselves, change the destiny of your communities, and uplift your nation. The better days of Ghana are ahead of us, not behind us.”
UMaT
The Education Minister commended UMaT as a leader in STEM education, noting that nearly 100% of its graduates are trained in STEM-related fields.
He also lauded the university’s efforts to align its programmes with the government’s STEM-focused Senior High School (SHS) initiatives, which include disciplines like aerospace, biomedical sciences, and manufacturing engineering.
“UMaT is setting an example by increasing enrollment in STEM-related fields and responding to the government’s agenda of equipping senior high schools with engineering and science labs,” Dr. Adutwum said.
“Now, universities must continue this trajectory by developing practical, oriented STEM programmes that ensure seamless continuity from high school to tertiary education,” he added.
Personal Commitment to Education
Dr. Adutwum shared his personal commitment to promoting education, revealing that over 150 students from his constituency are pursuing STEM degrees through his sponsorship, with 31 among the graduating class this year at UMaT.
“These students come from villages where they had never seen an engineer before,” he said. “I paid their fees, provided accommodation, and gave them stipends so they could thrive.”
He also announced plans to build a hall of residence at UMaT to support future students, underscoring his vision to transform his constituency into a hub for engineers.
Government’s Commitment
Dr. Adutwum reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering STEM education, whilst outlining its achievements in education, including the establishment of STEM-focused SHS, the introduction of Free SHS, and the construction of modern Junior High Schools and STEM academies.
These initiatives, he said, aim to address inequality and tap into the full potential of Ghanaian youth.
He also showcased the Accra STEM Academy, which is nearing completion, as an example of the modern, well-equipped facilities being developed to foster innovation and learning in Ghana.
By Ernest Kofi Adu