By Kingsley Nana Buadu
The Former Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, Daasebre Kwebu-Ewusi, has cut the sod for the construction of an Ultra-Modern STEM-Novation Centre for students in the Central Region at Abeadze Dominase.
The facility will be named after the legendary King of the Ancient Malian Empire, King Mansa Musa.
The initiative is an effort to complement the government’s promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in Ghana.
At a Durbar dubbed the Gathering of Central Regional Students, Youth and Nananom, 21 schools with about 1,500 students were present, with some exhibiting their practical STEM Innovations.
The gathering of the chiefs and students was under the theme “Empowering and Bridging Tradition with Tomorrow’s Leaders”.
It was an initiative of the Omanhene of the Abeadze-Dominase Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi, with support from the Obokese Foundation, the Centre for Awareness Global Peace Mission, and GES.
About 1,500 students and pupils from 21 Senior High and Basic schools within the region attended.
Some of the students already getting exposure to STEM exhibited their practical innovations at Durbar.
The schools included Aggrey Memorial, Mfantsiman Girls, Mfantsipim, Wesley Girls, Nyakrom Senior High, Moree S.H.S., Abeadze State College, Adisadel College, Holy Child, Saltpond Methodist High, and others.
King Mansa Musa, Central Regional Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Centre (STEM CENTER) is aimed at equipping the youth with knowledge and skills in science and technology to help resolve some global challenges.
According to Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi, naming the centre after the Emperor of the then Malian empire, is in honour and celebration of King Mansa Musa’s legacy, which continues to inspire generations.
He noted that beyond his riches, Mansa Musa embodied the values of leadership, vision, and philanthropy and further valued education and invested in it, as well as infrastructure and the arts, which laid the foundation for a flourishing society that elevated the people.
The Central Regional Director of Education, Emmanuel Essuman, stressed the importance government attaches to STEM education in the country.
He noted that seven out of ten STEM schools are fully operational in seven regions, but unfortunately, Central is not part of the initial ten regions benefiting from the policy, hence the need to support the Mansa Musa STEM-NOVATION Centre.
The President General of COA GPM, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, in a message read by Mr. Deladem Kisseih, reminded the students of the need to incorporate technology and morality in order not to derail their culture and values.
According to him, in their pursuit of academic excellence, they should take another look at the society in which they find themselves so they could merge the two to create a desirable society where culture and values would move together with science and technology.
The Former Minister of Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, who is also a former Vice-Presidential Candidate of NDC, said it was about time Ghanaians created their own knowledge base.
“It is time Ghanaians learn to take their own initiative, make their own mistakes, learn from such mistakes, and be courageous to admit them and learn from such mistakes and move on.”
