5Th Institute Of Applied Science And Technology(IAST) Industry Academia Interaction Series Marked.

Scores of people representing academia, industry, the business community, key government institutions and students enthusiastically participated in the

5Th Institute Of Applied Science And Technology (IAST) Industry Academia Interaction Series, which was held at the ISSER Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon.

The event which was chaired by the

President of the Association of Ghana Industrial (AGI), Dr. H. Kwesi Ayim Darke,witnessed a cocktail of long interesting speeches on the theme:

 “Industry-Academia-Government Connect: Harnessing the relationship during a pandemic”.

In his welcoming address the Director of IAST, Prof. George OduroNkansah, indicated that the pandemic has thought us lessons. Businesses folded up, some laid off staff whiles others had to take drastic cost-cutting measures. 

The result was a monumental refocusing of business strategies for survival. Industry-Academia collaborations that were already on knife-edge were shoved away. Indeed, the schools were closed so it made business sense to not engage us. These were periods of uncertainty and even mistrust.

Prof. George Oduro Nkansah emphasized that with all this doom, there was a silver lining. 

Citizens started asking, and rightly so, why the university professors were not “inventing” vaccines or providing clarity of information on the pandemic. Government, businesses and individuals donated money, logistics, food and any item they have to research institutions like Noguchi, WACCBIP, etc., to re-energize and motivate the overworked staff. TV and radio shows had experts from academia as regular panellists. People wanted expert advice and realized the importance of academia at this point. 

Prof. George Oduro Nkansah said, “we have seen the countries that reaped the rewards for their continuous support of academia”.

Today, we are gathered here to discuss a very relevant topic: “Industry-Academia-Government Connect: Harnessing the relationship during a pandemic”. 

“There are those who might say this is an overburdened subject, however, for university-industry collaborations, this is a relevant and timely discussion that needs to be had. Yesterday and today, it is a pandemic, tomorrow may be World War III, and the day after, it may be unimaginable. The time for deeper, meaningful and impactful collaboration should be a top priority of any serious country which has seen the ravages of this pandemic. The rhetoric of “paper” collaborations and tokenism coupled with the insignificant investment in academia is bound to collapse our future. We are going to have under-educated citizens competing in this knowledge-based era”.

Prof. George Oduro Nkansah took the opportunity to invite all participants to the official opening of our Industry-Academia Exhibition. 

In a speech read on behalf of Prof. Boateng Onwona- Agyeman , Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences 

by Prof. Elvis Kwason Tiburu , indicated

that, the 5th IAST Industry-Academia Interaction Series is significant and timely for a number of reasons. First, the establishment of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) in 2012 was in recognition of the fact that the problems of development require not just interdisciplinary applied research but also a greater and deeper collaboration between academia, industry and government. 

Therefore the Institute was to mobilize UG faculty and their partners, as well as resources to deliver knowledge, innovation and technology to industry in a targeted manner to facilitate their further development. The Provost said, over the years the IAST Industry-Academia Interaction Series has created mutual platforms where industry players come face-to-face with academia to discuss high-level local and international innovative technologies for collaborations and promote strategic partnerships between the University of Ghana research faculty in different disciplines and Industry among others.

The Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited Mrs. Gloria Opoku Anti on behalf of the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong delivered a key note address.

She spoke around the theme: “Industry-Academia Relationships – The Jospong Group”.

 Expressing that, despite the achievements with academia over the past years, the Group still believe this partnership needs to be strengthened. 

“As the Group moves to become a fully Integrated Waste management company with focus on value addition, we can say we need such partnerships more than ever.''

“The company will continue to benefit from graduates from academic institutions at all levels and from different parts of the world. This will sustain the human resource needs of the company for now and the future. We look forward in giving feedback to academia to ensure that our graduates easily fit into the working environment upon completion".

“Today I am happy to tell you that the Group is currently looking forward to the implementation of 41 waste recovery and treatment plants across the nation. With this about 80% of solid, liquid, and medical waste will be managed in the most sustainable way with positive impact on public health, environment and the economy"

The event was climaxed with a grand exhibition by representatives of the private sector, industry, academia, government institutions.

(AGI) commends (GRA) for engagement opportunity.

The Chief Executive Officer of AGI,

Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah on behalf of the association, sincerely expressed appreciation to the GRA for the engagement programme.

According to Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah, the workshop which seeks to sensitize, engage and educate members on some of GRA's policies and recent initiatives that impact on business, will go a long way to enhance tax compliance and to shape future engagements.

The AGI CEO, also commended the GRA for going digital to make compliance easy, indicating that going digital means that digital infrastructure must be efficient.

He urged the GRA to help build the capacity of AGI members to enhance compliance, expressing that compliance is about capacity and it is expensive.

In his remarks, Col.Rtd. Kwodjo Damoah, Commissioner of Customs Division of GRA, indicated the commitment of the GRA to work in the interest of businesses in Ghana to grow.

Col.Rtd. Kwodjo Damoah indicated that GRA, for meaningful trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation sees the need for continues engagement with stakeholders and will extend the awareness creation process throughout the regions.

The sensitization workshop which took place at the plush Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, is an AGI collaboration with Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) discuss and educate members on some of GRA's policies and recent initiatives that impact on business including, the discount values on goods and services, the GRA taxpayers’ portal, the 4% flat rate, and a presentation on e-levy, including electronic money transfer transactions.

AGI Throws Weight Behind Authorities To Redevelop Accra

It was an atmosphere charged with optimism, laced with the burning desire by captains of industry, members of Ghana's business community, city authorities and the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, to transform the City of Accra and by a large extent the Greater Accra Region, into a business destination in West Africa.

Addressing the gathering of members of the private sector, investor community, representatives of Greater Accra Regional, Metropolitan and Municipal Authorities, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr. Humphrey Kwesi Ayim Darke, expressed a strong commitment and dedication on the part of  AGI to support the government in it's bid and efforts to redevelop Accra into a modern business and investment hub.

The  AGI President, acknowledged government's efforts to attract and retain investments in Ghana and affirmed the support of the association for the noble initiative championed by Hon.Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister.

Dr. Humphrey Kwesi Ayim Darke, eulogized Hon. Henry Quartey, for his result orientedness, passion, determination and hard work, to transform and modernize Accra.

The AGI President, indicated that the association is determined to extend tremendous support to Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, to achieve the Capital City's redevelopment objective.

Dr. Ayim Darke, also said authorities should consult the AGI, when it comes to determining property rates and permits as he concluded with the need to achieve the Accra redevelopment agenda devoid of red tapism, political interferences and excessive self interest.

Opening the conference, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, 

Hon. Henry Quartey, expressed appreciation to the AGI for the collaboration. He indicated that the private sector is a credible and vital ally towards the achievement of Making Accra Great agenda. 

Hon. Henry Quartey stressed that government is increasingly looking into the private sector as a resource mobilisation instrument to bridge the funding gab for development.

There were presentations from the Regional Coordinating Council and other stakeholders on modernizing Accra through various initiatives including the Automotive Enclave project, the Sustainable use of Natural Resources and Energy Finance (Sunref) project which also presented opportunities for financing of renewable energy projects and the Accra Eco-Park development project as well.

To climax the conference, participants were taken on a tour through the Central Business District, especially Agbogbloshie, to asses progress made by authorities in clearing the areas off squatters and filth to make way for the Accra Eco-Park project. 

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), in conjunction with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, held the Greater Accra Investment Opportunities Conference, under the theme "The New Face of Greater Accra: Collaborative Cities and Private Sector to Achieve Accelerated Development".