Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng (3rd left) and Mr Kwame Addo Kufuor (3rd right) display the dummy cheque while officials of the Mines Chamber join them.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines yesterday presented a cheque for $100,000 to the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Innovation (MESTI) to help transform scientific research and technological innovation in Ghana.
The gesture was in response to a request by Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, this year to the Chamber to support an initiative on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) training programme to empower the next generation of researchers, problem solvers and leaders.
Kwame Addo Kufuor, President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who presented the cheque to Prof Frimpong Boateng, noted: “Our presence here today is to affirm our commitment to the STEM training programme due to its potential of making Ghana a reference point for scientific and technological advancement on the continent. As a Chamber, we are aware that the contribution of mining to Ghana’s economic progress transcends the direct fiscal contributions. It has always been our fervent belief that effective integration of the non-mineral sector must begin with proper training of our young ones to take advantage of the opportunities in the value chain of the mining industry.”
He said globally progressive nations achieve accelerated economic transformation on the back of the minerals and mining industry.
“We have at various times taken voluntary initiatives to promote in-country expenditure on mining inputs such as fabrication of critical components of plant, machinery & equipment and engineering services.
“We are currently collaborating with the faculty of University of Mines and Technology to develop key inputs in commercial quantities for the industry. The realisation of our local content goals can be possible if only the right investors are paired with local professionals with the right skills and expertise to produce the inputs.”
Prof Frimpong Boateng commended the Chamber for the support and expressed optimism that the donation would inspire other corporate organisations and donor agencies to support the STEM Project.
He reiterated the importance of Science and Technology in training people for the job market and indicated that the government was concerned with aligning the requirements of the job market with skills development and capacity building.
That, he opined, would go a long way to boost the quality of Ghana’s human resources.