Published: 09 Sep 2016 Source: University Relations Office (URO)
The Local Government Service (LGS), which was established by the Local Government Service Act, 2003 ( Act 656) has on the 5th of July, 2016 signed a landmark MoU with the Nation’s premier science and technology university, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) which was equally established by an Act of Parliament in 1961 (Act, 80).
The MoU is a land mark for many and varied reasons. It is to ensure effective and efficient support for the socio-economic development of the Districts as KNUST has an array of expertise to provide an excellent platform for knowledge transfer, upgrading and skills training due to its diversity in knowledge and skills represented by the different specialized Colleges, Faculties, Departments and Research Centres. To this end, the partnership under the MoU would naturally lead to the building of capacities of the Assemblies, facilitating the generation of community entrepreneurship and also preparing the youth to effectively source and manage funds for the enhanced development of the Districts, in particular and Ghana, as a whole.
Again, the MoU seems to be mutually beneficial in terms of realization of the parties’ mandates. Specifically, KNUST by her mandate is to undertake research, disseminate knowledge and foster relationships with the outside persons and bodies. Furthermore, to undertake teaching in Science and Technology for Development, this is one of the cardinal pillars of the decentralization process. Additionally, students churned out from the University are facilitating industrial and socio-economic development of Ghana and Africa as a whole. KNUST’s core values are in tandem with that of the Local Government Service i.e. Leadership in Innovation and Technology as well as Equal Opportunity whilst LGS’ values are Creativity, Innovativeness, Equality and Integrity among others.
Specifically, KNUST with its Colleges, Faculties, Departments and Research Centres will
- Conduct business, managerial and technical needs assessments of Assembly members, community entrepreneurs and youth entrepreneurs in the Districts;
- Identify potential resources in the Districts and subsequent development into economic enterprises;
- Provide training in business entrepreneurship and management; natural and human resources management, and fundraising principles, practices and management to Assembly members, community entrepreneurs and youth entrepreneurs in the Districts;
- Publish and disseminate appropriate technical, business and management technologies to Assembly members, community entrepreneurs and the youth to facilitate effective economic and social development;
- Provide business incubation services to support the establishment and growth of identified business opportunities in the Districts;
- Undertake research, development and innovation to facilitate the productive exploitation of natural resources for the accelerated development of the Districts and
- Facilitate the establishment of strategic alliances and networks among Assemblies and with organizations and agencies that share the aspirations of the Assemblies for enhanced development.
The MoU is indeed a thoughtful innovation, which may bring on its orbit many and varied benefits to the Service and KNUST as we move from academic theory to practice. To this end, the Vice Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis and Head of Service Dr. Callistus Mahama must be commended for this far-reaching initiative meant to improve the quality of lives of people and also to bridge the income inequalities within our society. Such a move could be considered as the University’s humble attempt to give back to society.