By Naa Shormei Odonkor
Akyawkrom (Ash), Nov 14, GNA – The Government of Ghana has commended the continuous efforts by the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), Ghana, in promoting innovative agriculture, entrepreneurship and technological development.
Mr George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, who gave the recommendation, said the construction of an ultra-modern laboratory facility by the KIC was an impressive effort to be commended.
He was speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the commissioning of the KIC Centre of Excellence at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, which was sponsored by the Mastercard Foundation and Kosmos Energy.
The KIC Centre of Excellence is an innovative and creative facility that houses six specialised laboratories to support young innovators and entrepreneurs to experiment their ideas and bring them to a reality.
The six laboratories are the Food Innovation Lab, Electronics Lab, Mechatronics Lab, Computer Design Lab, Metal Fabrication Lab and the Woodwork Lab.
Mr Addo noted that in an era in which majority of the youth were faced with challenges such as gambling, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and limited opportunities, KIC had given hope to thousands of individuals to realise their dreams.
Focusing their attention on incubation programmes, women’s bootcamps, youth empowerment in agriculture and entrepreneurship, the KIC has impacted many young people in and beyond the country.
Mr Addo observed that after the inception of the KIC in 2016, more than 77,000 students have been trained, over 58,000 young leaders and about 195,000 small holder farmers across Ghana have directly benefitted.
He said the KIC was able to make these great strides by partnering with 16 universities and agricultural colleges and other organizations.
Mr Addo said the vision and mission of the KIC was aligned with the government’s vision to transform Ghana to a place where youth entrepreneurship and innovation were the driving force of national progress.
He indicated that the contributions of the KIC in transforming agriculture and promoting youth entrepreneurship was a proof that with resource and mentorship, the youth could create businesses to benefit communities and boost national development.
Mr Addo encouraged the beneficiaries and the caretakers of the KIC Centre of Excellence to practice maintenance culture to ensure the longevity of the facility for its impact to be felt beyond the nation.
Mr Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC, said the facility which occupied a two-plot of land, was a first class makerspace, a playground for innovators and creators.
He said through the construction of the facility, KIC had realized its bold vision of making Ghana a hub of practical innovation, youth-driven creativity and a home-grown technological excellence.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah