The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has said that his country will deepen the existing collaborations with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
“There are already existing collaborations in various disciplines with this noble university, and I wish to assure the management that we will continue to extend the partnerships among us in the near future for our mutual benefit.
Mr Steinmeier said this during an interaction with the management and staff of KNUST as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana last Tuesday.
President Steinmeier was accompanied to KNUST by the German Ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshöft; the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene; the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi, and other officials.
Among the facilities toured were the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR).
The President had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during which they held bilateral discussions behind closed doors.
Mutual learning
President Steinmeier further underscored the importance of mutual learning between German institutions and KNUST, stressing “we are learning from you and you are also learning from us for mutual benefit and the advancement of Germany and Ghana”.
While commending the management of KNUST for the warm reception, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the cooperation that has existed between Germany and Ghana for several years.
Significance
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, described the visit as historic in the annals of the institution, adding that it would solidify partnerships between KNUST and many educational and research institutions in Germany.
“Currently, we have partnerships with over 25 institutions in Germany, and more than 80 professors and senior members at KNUST were trained in Germany.
“What this means is that we are looking at a lot of research impact in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she said.
Vaccine development
Prof. Dickson also called for collaboration on vaccine development in the country, saying Ghana had learnt a lot of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Already, we have the National Vaccine Institute, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, and the Food and Drugs Authority, and so vaccine manufacturing can become a reality,” she added.
The Vice-Chancellor further said that the university had over 80,000 brilliant tech-driven students who were willing to contribute positively to the global digital drive.
“I think Germany must make good use of these students by working together to get a global hub in the university where the young ones can be upskilled and deployed to work remotely,” she said.
Prof. Dickson also touched on a smart energy campus to deal with global issues of climate change and the reduction of carbon footprint towards achieving the net-zero agenda.
She appealed for the establishment of a two-megawatt solar park in KNUST.
The solar park, the Vice-Chancellor said, would serve as a platform to train students and also reduce the university’s electricity bills.
The Chairman of the university Governing Council, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, was also hopeful that President Steinmeier’s visit would deepen the age-old partnership between KNUST and Germany.
Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.@ a glance
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier last Tuesday paid a visit to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
PICTURES WITH EMMANUEL BAAH
