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President John Dramani Mahama has called on technical universities to align their programmes with the government’s drive to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana.
Speaking at the 4th Biennial Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities on Tuesday in Takoradi, the President announced that the 2027 budget will allocate GHS 10 million to each of the ten public technical universities. The funding is intended to enhance infrastructure and support the acquisition of equipment and laboratories, fulfilling the vision set when polytechnics were upgraded to universities a decade ago.
President Mahama emphasised that these institutions must serve as the engine of Ghana’s knowledge-based economy, prioritising practical skills, collaboration with industry, and addressing youth unemployment.
“You must focus on hands-on, competence-based technical and vocational training aligned with the German model,” he urged.
He further revealed plans to establish two additional technical universities—one at Jasikan in the Oti Region and another at Techiman in the Bono East Region. Complementing this expansion, a new University of Science and Technology will be set up in the Savannah Region, aimed at broadening access to higher education, particularly in the northern belt. In addition, the government will launch a TVET Fund to strengthen science-based education across the country.
“The new universities will bridge the gap between science and industry. They will build strong partnerships with industry, utilising resources to drive innovation and technological progress,” the President said.
He stressed that technical universities play a pivotal role in combating youth unemployment by producing graduates equipped with practical, industry-relevant skills. The focus, he noted, is to shift Ghana’s approach from producing job seekers to nurturing job creators.
President Mahama also highlighted past investments in cutting-edge equipment for the Takoradi and Kumasi campuses, which included six laboratories per institution at a cost of $5 million, covering areas such as electronics, advanced manufacturing, solar, and wind technology.
Story by Efua Nessa