Sunyani: Dr Samuel Joe Acquah, the Head of the Central Laboratory of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), has expressed concerns over Ghana’s inconsistent development trajectory, attributing it to the lack of political will among successive governments.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Acquah highlighted that despite having effective national policies and programmes, the failure of successive governments to implement these developmental initiatives has hindered sustainable progress. In an interview in Sunyani, Dr Acquah lamented that each political party prioritizes its development manifesto over the comprehensive plans designed by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), which has been detrimental to the country’s growth.
Dr Acquah pointed out the potential benefits of the One-District-One Factory (1D1F) programme, suggesting that its proper implementation could significantly bolster Ghana’s industrialization efforts. He emphasized that industrialization could lead to job creation, wealth generation, and poverty reduction.
Dr Acquah shared his views during a media engagement on the ‘Improving Study Programmes in Ghana by Introducing Green Solutions, Sustainability Modules and Digital Transformation’ (ImPreSSion) project. The three-year initiative aims to enhance study programmes in energy, water, and agriculture at three Ghanaian public universities: the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), University of Ghana (UG), and UESD.
He stressed the importance of a strong connection between academia and industry, arguing that such collaboration would allow industries to leverage academic research for increased productivity across various economic sectors. Dr Acquah further noted that the issue lies not within academia but with the reluctance of successive governments to support large-scale implementation of research findings for public benefit.
Earlier, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice Chancellor of UENR, praised the ImPreSSion project, stating that it aligns with the university’s mandate and promises to have a positive societal impact.