Gov't attitude towards innovation discouraging - Prof. Bobobee

A research fellow and lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has bemoaned what he says is government’s lack of support for local inventors and innovators.

Professor Emmanuel Y. H. Bobobee says government has not shown commitment towards numerous research works and technological development at various universities in the country.

He said the KNUST has developed a tractor which is used in harvesting cassava in commercial quantity, a machine he said ispresently on the market for sale, but government has gone for a Brazilian loan to acquire some cassava harvesting tractors from abroad instead of purchasing the local ones manufactured by KNUST.

Professor Emmanuel Bobobee said government could have purchased the cassava harvesting tractors from the KNUST to enable them to raise money to expand production.

He indicated that this attitude by government was killing researchers and innovators because innovators feel that their innovations and technology are not being supported by government.

Professor Bobobee made the disclosure while addressing the 9th Annual Applied Research, Technology and Innovation conference organized by the Koforidua Polytechnic.

He said KNUST Cassava harvesting Machines have won many awards from the Ghana Institute of Engineers and other international organisations.

He urged the establishment of commercial cassava plantation to reduce unemployment and change the economy.

Rector of Koforidua Polytechnic Prof Smile Dzisi noted that the 9th Annual International Applied Research Conference aims at providing a platform for discussing research findings, build effective collaboration between academia, industry and other research institutions and also provide an opportunity to exhibit new products and services and create an investment opportunity.

This year’s conference was under the Theme: Applied Research for Innovative and strategic Solutions to National Problems.