NATIONAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE, WILL UNEARTH BRIGHTEST MINDS FOR DEV’T – DR. AFRIYIE 23rd OCTOBER, 2023

The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation [MESTI], Dr. Kwaku Afriyie this Monday afternoon, has launched the National Innovation Challenge [NIC] in Accra stating that, Innovation has always been the cornerstone of progress of many countries and emphasized that, “it is our duty to foster a culture of innovation that can transform our nation”. 

Dr. Afriyie who is also the Member of Parliament for the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency in his inaugural speech also noted that, the world is evolving at a remarkable pace, and Ghana must adapt to the changes that come with it, else the country will lag behind. He said the challenges the country faced in the modern day – from climate change to healthcare to education and the rest, require new and innovative solutions and that is exactly where the National Innovation Challenge fits in. According to him, it is not enough to simply maintain the status quo but “we must reach beyond the boundaries of convention and embrace the limitless potential of human creativity”. 

 Dr. Afriyie [in smock] with other Dignitaries

The Minister explained further that, the NIC is a platform where the Nation’s brightest minds will converge to address these pressing challenges. He described the Challenge as a call to action for Ghanaian scientists, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone with a passion for innovation to come on board and add their essential contributions for the overall national development drive through innovation. 

He however cautioned that as it may appear on the surface, the Challenge is not just about competition; rather it is about collaboration, it is about working together, sharing knowledge and expertise, and breaking down the silos that often hinder progress. He thus encouraged partnerships between the country’s universities, research institutions, and industry; an ecosystem where innovation flourishes, and where ideas can be transformed into tangible solutions. 

A Section of Patrons at the event
Dr. Afriyie observed that Innovation is not the sole preserve of any single sector as the phenomenon actually transcends boundaries, and belongs to all and sundry across the sectors and across professions. It could for instance, be the farmer finding new ways to increase crop yields, the engineer developing sustainable energy solutions, the teacher introducing new techniques in the classroom, and the entrepreneur creating products that improve lives.

He gave the assurance that Government is committed to supporting and nurturing innovation and will keep investing in research and development, provide grants and incentives, and work to reduce bureaucratic hurdles that stifle progress. He noted that, it will not just about government support but also, “about all of us working together to create an innovation-driven nation”. 

The Youth Well Represented at the Event
 

Dr. Afriyie urged all to embrace this National Innovation Challenge with enthusiasm and passion entreating them to “be bold in your ideas, relentless in your pursuit, and resolute in your commitment to making a difference. The challenges we face are great, but so is our capacity to overcome them through innovation”. 

Senior Presidential Advisor, Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo in his remarks, observed that the processes innovator go through often require technical and financial support and this is why the government is partnering a financial powerhouse such as the World Bank, to roll out this programme, targeted at youth and women in particular to provide practical and international best practice solutions for the challenges Ghanaian communities. According to him, government acknowledges the youth as the effective catalyst for economic growth and development, hence, the government’s determination to continuously provide the institutional framework to ensure that this bracket of the population does not miss out on the global competition for innovation challenges.

 The Senior Presidential Adviser said through the Environment Ministry, Government is encouraging “our teeming youth to be competitive in the innovation ecosystem by showcasing evidence-based successful solutions and initiatives for economic growth and development”. He added that the volume of uncommercialized research findings gathering dust for years, is unacceptable and that the time had come for such research to be commercialized through innovation. 

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry has already placed advertisements in the Ghanaian dailies calling for the submission of concept notes for consideration under the first edition of the NIC. One can get all the details therein, in the Ghanaian Times copy of 24th October, 2023 as well the Daily Graphic publication for the same date.

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