Ghana to host UNESCO centre of excellence
The Executive Board of the united Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has approved the hosting of a Centre of Excellence in mathematics and allied sciences in Ghana under the auspices of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana (AIMS GHANA).
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The AIMS is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for postgraduate training, research and public engagement in mathematical sciences.
The work of the AIMS is to harness Africa’s brightest young minds to flourish as independent thinkers, problem solvers and innovators capable of propelling Africa’s future, particularly in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Government’s support for STEM
The new Centre of Excellence to be hosted in Ghana is a direct response to the efforts of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government to scale up science and mathematics education for socio-economic transformation in the country.
The Minister of Education and Ghana’s Representative on the UNESCO Executive Board, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, led the historic move which is expected to transform mathematics and science education in Ghana and Africa.
With the coming into effect of the centre’s operations, AIMS Ghana will be embedded in the UNESCO’s network of Category II institutes and centres which are formal arrangements approved by the General Conference of the UNESCO.
UNESCO and AIMS to collaborate
AIMS Ghana will take part in the UNESCO’s activities in the basic sciences, STEM education and research.
The centre will also closely cooperate with UNESCO in particular, the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) in developing mathematical sciences, STEM education and research resources activities, as well as provide support to teacher training, thereby contributing to UNESCO’s actions towards building national, regional and international capacities in science, in line with its Global Priority Africa Programme.
The Centre will further contribute to Ghana’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) One, Four, Five and Nine of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
AIMS to build partnership
AIMS Ghana will seek to build partnerships and collaborations with relevant bodies including the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the network of UNESCO Chairs and Category II institutes and centres in the basic engineering sciences and science education, as well as other specialised institutions and networks of excellence.
The institute will cooperate with higher education institutions, scientific establishments and public and private institutions for the successful realisation of its mission.
AIMS Ghana’s cooperation with UNESCO will foster the development of activities in STEM education and research areas, including science-teaching materials and contribute to the work of UNESCO in promoting science learning and teaching at national, sub-regional and regional levels.
The overarching aim is to reduce the deficit in schooling in the mathematical sciences and foster the blossoming of talented young African scientists.
Ghana’s delegation
The delegation to the UNESCO that spearheaded this significant achievement included the Chairman of AIMS Ghana Board of Trustees and one of Africa’s renowned scientists, Prof. F.K.A Allotey, the President of AIMS Ghana, Prof. Edward S. Ayensu and Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Portugal and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ms Anna Bossman.