Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Anna Bossman with Dr. Adutwum
The government has proposed the establishment of a new Centre of Excellence in engineering innovations, manufacturing and technology transfer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, who disclosed this, said the Centre of Excellence would be built in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Addressing the 212th session of the UNESCO Executive Board meeting at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on Tuesday, the minister explained that the proposal forms part of strategies to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He commended UNESCO for their efforts in making the organisation still relevant to the international community in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
Dr. Adutwum, who was recently appointed as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, presented Ghana’s policy statement on education.
He conveyed the gratitude of President Akufo-Addo to UNESCO and the international community for designating Accra as the World Book Capital for 2023.
According to him, Ghana’s new designation would be used to promote education and tourism to draw the world’s attention to Ghana’s rich heritage, indigenous knowledge and culture.
He told the meeting that Ghana had taken pragmatic steps to preserve, protect and manage its heritage by establishing a broad-based national heritage committee as part of a comprehensive strategy to address emerging challenges in heritage resources management, particularly in the context of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
The minister again lauded UNESCO for including Ghana in the Spotlight Report Series initiative, which is geared towards accelerating progress in African countries on SDG4 targets.
“Ghana is happy to be included in the 12 countries earmarked in Africa to share experiences and good practices in foundational learning and gender parity in this new programme under UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring,” he stressed.
Ghana’s proposal to UNESCO is expected to be approved by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2021.
The Executive Board of UNESCO ensures the overall management of the organisation as it prepares the work of the General Conference and sees that its decisions are properly carried out.
Ghana is among the participants in the 212th session of the UNESCO Executive Board meeting currently underway at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum is leading the Ghanaian delegation and would take part in the various sessions of the conference towards the development and sustainability of culture, scientific research, tourism and education among others worldwide.
By Ernest Kofi Adu