Ghana Science Association launches 50th anniverssary

THE 50th anniversary of the Ghana Science Association (GSA) has been launched with a call on scientists to provide the needed expertise to support the government‘s agenda of formulating science and technology policies to ensure a sustainable development of the economy.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr E. K. Omane Boamah, who made the call at the launch, said the government would adopt measures to set up institutes of science and technology to address the technological challenges the country was facing.
He said it would soon establish science, technology and innovation funds to provide the needed funds for research and development programmes.
He said the government had identified the Central and Eastern regions for the establishment of theme parks for the exhibition of scientific innovations of Ghanaians and the development of science and technology in those areas.
He assured scientists of an annual Science Congress which would provide a platform for them to deliberate on issues for the promotion and advancement of science and technology in the country.
In his presentation, the Chairman of the West African Examinations Council, Prof J. S. Djangmah, cited the case of India where the government, by an act of Parliament, set up over 13 institutes of technology to train scientists and engineers with the aim of developing a skilled workforce to support the economy of that country.
He urged the GETFund to make funds available to institutions of higher learning for the training of scientists and technologists to fill the gaps in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels of the educational system.
For his part, the Honorary National President of the GSA, Dr Alfred Owusu, said the formation of the science association some 50 years ago broadened the scope of its activities from the mere reading of papers to its involvement in national affairs.
He outlined some of the achievements of the GSA over the past 50 years as the planning and establishment of the Ghana Academy of Sciences (GAS), now known as the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS).
The anniversary, which is on the theme, “Celebrating Ghana Science Association in Fifty years of Ghana’s Development: Achievements, Challenges and the Future”, will focus on some of the achievements of the association and how to build an innovative scientific association in the country.
A number of activities have been outlined for the celebration in the form of seminars, workshops, public lectures, among others. The climax will be in August 2009.
In a related development, Prof Marian Ewurama Addy has launched a five-year strategic plan for the association.