As Ghana battles the environmental and health impacts of illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey,” educationists are urging the use of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to help solve these issues.
At the 13th graduation ceremony of KAAF University College, Professor Kwame Boasiako Omane Antwi, Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, emphasised the role STEM could play in safeguarding the country’s waterbodies from galamsey.
“We haven’t thought about our future with regards to our water bodies. If STEM is well implemented, machines can be developed to clean our water bodies,” he said.
Prof. Antwi advocated for STEM to be prioritised at all educational levels and called on the government to make essential STEM materials and equipment duty-free, emphasising government’s support was crucial in ensuring that students and institutions had access to the resources needed to innovate.
Founder of KAAF University College, Mr Michael Adu, also called for equal government support for private educational institutions.
He indicated that extending the same financial and policy support provided public universities to private institutions, could greatly enhance the nation’s educational sector.
“If we could receive support such as tax incentives, infrastructure, buses and other equipment as the public institutions, I assure you we will do better than we are doing now,” Adu stated.
He encouraged the new graduates to leverage their education for self-employment and job creation, rather than solely relying on government jobs.
Prof. Herbert Kwabena Addai, Rector of KAAF University, said 629 students, the largest cohort to date, graduated.
The University also had its last year’s enrolment increasing significantly and hoped to further increase it this academic year.
He attributed the growth of the University to improved infrastructure, including one of the best science laboratories for health students at KAAF.
Additionally, the University had recently introduced new academic programs, with the hope of becoming one of the nation’s leading private universities.
Prof. Addai urged graduates to exhibit good character, humility, hardwork, diligence, obedience, and self-motivation as they enter the job market.
