Innovative thinkers pivotal for economic growth — Dr Kwaku Afriyie
Ghana needs innovative thinkers to move the nation forward, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr Kwaku Afriyie, has said.
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On the back of the myriad of challenges facing the country’s economy, he said innovation was a pivotal force that would propel progress and foster economic growth while addressing multifaceted challenges and enhancing the quality of life for individuals worldwide.
Dr Afriyie, who was speaking at the launch of Nobel International Business School (NiBS) Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) programme in Accra, explained that in the current era, where change is a constant, innovation assumed a paramount role in staying competitive and consequential in diverse arenas.
“Advancement in technology, medicine, and infrastructure have significantly augmented our existence in recent times, and their potential for continued betterment in the future is immense,” he said.
NiBS’ CIP programme
The CIP programme builds the executive and an organisation’s internal capacity for generating and accelerating profitable growth through innovation.
The programme helps an organisation to develop an elite group of innovation leaders who are experts in the best practices for generating and implementing new ideas, advancing collaboration on critical projects, and capturing the value of innovation.
It also prepares anyone in any organisation, private or public, who wants to be different from the pack through skills and competencies in creativity and innovation.
Key driver of economic growth
The sector minister said the CIP programme was critical at this time of growth in Ghana when innovation had become a key driver of economic growth and development in many countries.
Encouraging individuals to participate in the programme, he said Ghana could build a skilled workforce to generate and implement new ideas, advance collaboration on critical projects and capture the value of innovation.
Building innovation capacity
The President of NiBS, Prof. Atuahene Kwaku Gima, said innovation training was crucial for the development of the country.
According to him, as a country we have not emphasized the importance of innovation training and capacity building in leaders and organisations.
“When a nation accepts that innovation is critical to its development, it must take action to build innovation capacity in the public and private sectors.
This capacity building requires corporate leadership knowledge, skills, and competencies and those of their managers and employees,” he said.
