Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia says the time is right for Ghana to leverage her digitisation drive for digital manufacturing.
Digital manufacturing is a
technology-based approach to production, which enhances productivity.
Speaking at the inauguration of the
Academic City University College, a private university at Haatso in the Greater
Accra Region on Tuesday, 16 August 2022, Dr Bawumia said Ghana venturing into
digital manufacturing will create more opportunities, jobs and income for
Ghanaians.
"We need to explore and support a
move into digital manufacturing," Dr Bawumia said.
He added that Ghana can move more
easily into digital manufacturing than many other sectors, and called on
Academic City University, noted for its innovations despite being in existence
for about 4 years, and other institutions, to lead the process, with support
from the government.
"I am asking the Academic
University to take the lead in this area. We believe that as you move
into Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and 3D printing and all of that, we need
to leverage all of this into the manufacturing sector”.
"Where Ghana has a probable
comparative advantage is in digital manufacturing. There are many parts,
whether you are looking at medical equipment like syringes or car parts that
can be 3D-printed."
"I am talking of what we can do
now. That, we can do, and I am going to challenge Professor McBagonluri
because he is an inventor who has already written a lot on this issue of
digital manufacturing”, Dr Bawumia charged.
"Our mechanics in Suame and other
places can use a lot of spare parts that Ghana could manufacture digitally and
also export”, he said.
"So, I'm challenging you to help
Ghana move into digital manufacturing and we will create more jobs and more
income for our people. And we will support you and work in partnership with you
to achieve this."
Tertiary institutions urged to
prioritise job-relevant, problem-solving skills
Dr Bawumia also encouraged higher
education institutions to prioritise programmes that offer young people skills
that are relevant for the job market, as well as help in solving
problems.
He explained that the provision of
relevant tertiary education to the youth, is key to the country's development
agenda, as it will create the right human resource for industrial growth, which
will impact the living conditions of Ghanaians positively.
"Higher education institutions,
both public and private, are encouraged to provide graduates with job-relevant
skills in order to meet the demands of the job market," Dr Bawumia
urged.
"This is necessary to ensure
accelerated industrial growth, which will improve Ghanaians' living conditions
and contribute and enhance economic growth”.
Giving an example of such relevant
programmes, Dr Bawumia highlighted the indispensability of skills in digital
and information technology in the 21st century to economic transformation,
which, he observed, has accounted for a more focused and relevant tertiary
education.
"Undoubtedly, the successful
economic transformation of every nation in the 21st century would significantly
rely on the provision of tertiary education in digital and information
technology. This is responsible for the growing global demand for high-quality
and relevant tertiary education, which concentrates on teaching the youth
problem-solving skills by harnessing the various human and technology resources
at their disposal."
In recognition of the need for the
acquisition of such relevant training and skill, the government's vision and
goals, Dr Bawumia noted, are also in tune with the global human resources
demands, having initiated reforms in the past few years.
In the past several years, we have
implemented a number of ambitious education reforms and policies to reorient
the country's education system to develop a critical mass of Ghanaians who are
assertive and empowered."
"Through the Ghana Tertiary
Education Commission, the Government of Ghana is committed to adopting a
coherent, well-articulated, and holistic policy framework that would enable our
tertiary education system to meet the needs of the learning society and
knowledge-driven economy we want".
The Vice President revealed the
government’s plans for universities in the newly created regions that will
focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
While acknowledging the significant
contribution that private universities make to the overall educational system
of the country, to complement the government's efforts, Dr Bawumia commended
Academic City University for the innovative programmes they are offering.
"We appreciate the contributions
of these private universities, like Academic University, as viable alternatives
to state tertiary institutions, which are unable to accommodate the high number
of pre-tertiary students and adult students who are interested in furthering
their education but are unable to enrol in public schools."
"It has only been four years
since the Academic City University opened its doors, and it has already assumed
a pivotal position in reshaping higher education in Ghana and the sub-region. A
feat which astounds me beyond measure," said the Vice President.
"Dr Bawumia lauded the young
university for its initiative to develop a less expensive ventilator (which is
currently going through appropriate tests) during the covid pandemic.
He also commended them for being the
first institution in the region to offer a bachelor's degree program in
artificial intelligence and other "forward-thinking programs, such as
robotics and biomedical engineering.
Source: Classfmonline.com