Accord Science And Technology Paramount Importance - Owusu Ankomah

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister for Education, Science and Sports has said that, the adoption of science and technology as the basis of achieving sustainable development must be accorded paramount importance, if Ghana was to raise the living standard of the population and maintain a balanced economy.

He observed that, the most developed and richest countries were those that had been able to advance in scientific knowledge and thereby used technology to generate national wealth.

Papa Owusu Ankomah said this in an address read on his behalf at the close of a five-day Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) Clinic at Tarkwa in the Western Region last Sunday. It was under the theme: "STME, The Engine Of Growth of The Nation"

Activities of the 5-day clinic included talks on carrier guidance and hepatitis, excursion to West Africa Mills Company (WAMCO) and Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM) all in Takoradi, group discussions and quiz. In all four Senior Secondary Schools and nine Junior Secondary Schools participated.

The Minister said knowledge and technology had always been the basis of wealth creating activities such as agriculture, health, manufacturing, industry and the exploitation of national resources. He quoted the Bible saying, "a nation without knowledge perishes" and said to avoid perishing, children should be given quality science and technology education.

Madam Catherine Davies, Wassa West District Director of Education said the growth of every nation depended on science, but unfortunately the absence of teaching materials had contributed to poor teaching of the subject in the country. She said the recent Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results bear testimony to this.