Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has received the President of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between KNUST and higher institutions in Germany.
Welcoming the delegation, Chairman of the KNUST Governing Council, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, expressed optimism about deepening existing collaborations.
“At KNUST, we already have a number of activities going on with German institutions, and it is important that we continue to deepen that collaboration,” he said. “Your presence here underscores the importance and relevance of our partnership with Germany.”
The Council Chairman highlighted KNUST’s partnership with the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) as a strong example of Ghana–Germany cooperation in research and innovation.
“We are looking at how it is possible to have additional areas of collaboration, particularly in vaccine development,” he noted. “We have already put together a preliminary proposal on that, which the Vice-Chancellor will elaborate on further.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson described the visit as a milestone in KNUST’s long-standing relationship with German academic and research institutions.
“KNUST and institutions in Germany have come a long way in collaboration,” she said. “Currently, we have partnerships with over 25 institutions in Germany, and more than 80 professors and senior members at KNUST were trained in your country. What this means is that we are looking at a lot of research, impact and we are guided by the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a lot of boxes we are ticking, but we need to ask ourselves what we do from here.”
She outlined three proposals for future cooperation:
Partnership for a West African End-to-End Vaccine Pipeline Development
“We are proposing to establish a sustainable end-to-end vaccine development, manufacturing, and deployment pipeline at KNUST in partnership with Germany,” Professor Dickson said. “This strategic German–Ghanaian partnership aims to achieve regional health security for West Africa by enabling local production of 60% of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040, in line with the African Union’s vision.”
She added, “Here in Ghana, we have the National Vaccine Institute, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, and the Food and Drugs Authority. COVID-19 taught us important lessons; let us now come together and act on them.”
Global Workhub: A Ghana–Germany Remote Talent Powerhouse at KNUST
“Your Excellency, at KNUST, we have over 80,000 brilliant, tech-driven students eager to contribute positively to the global digital economy,” she said. “We propose that Germany partners with us to create a ‘Global Hub’ to train, upskill and deploy thousands of young professionals annually so they can work remotely and support the global digital transformation drive.”
Smart Energy Campus
“Given the global issues about climate change and reducing carbon footprint, we must all contribute to reducing emissions,” Professor Dickson said. “Here at KNUST, we think one of the ways forward is solar energy. We are also looking at developing a Smart Energy Campus as part of the global net-zero agenda. We therefore seek technical and financial assistance from the German government to establish a 2 MW Smart Solar Energy Park (2-SSEP) at KNUST.”
She added, “This will support our renewable energy supply and net-zero agenda, as well as provide practical training for students and reduce our electricity bills.”
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised the need for sustained collaboration. “Let Germany work with Ghana, let Germany work with KNUST, and together, let us solve problems in our communities. This is home, Your Excellency. Thank you once again for coming.”
Responding to the warm welcome, President Steinmeier expressed appreciation for KNUST’s hospitality and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Ghana–Germany cooperation.
“This is my fourth visit to Ghana,” he said. “For the past twenty years, I have followed the growing intensity of cooperation between Germany and Ghana. We are fully aware of the opportunities in this partnership.”
He stressed the spirit of mutual learning that defines the relationship.
“We are learning from you, you are learning from us, and together we are learning to the benefit of both sides,” he said. “There are already existing collaborations in all the disciplines mentioned, and we will continue to extend them in the near future. Be assured that we are here and we are staying.”
A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed to symbolise the visit and reaffirm both parties’ commitment to advancing academic and research cooperation between Ghana and Germany.
President Steinmeier also met KNUST alumni who had studied in Germany, commending them for serving as bridges of collaboration between the two countries.
