Kumasi, Oct. 02, GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Minister of Education, Science and Sports, on Monday said science and technology should take the centre stage of the country's socio-economic development.

He noted that authorities of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the nation's premier science and technology tertiary institution should take the centre stage and lead in the country's development agenda.

Mr Osafo Maafo made the observation at the launching of the 36th annual week celebrations of Ghana Engineering Students Association (GESA) at KNUST in Kumasi.

Professor Kwesi Andam, immediate past Vice Chancellor of KNUST and Mr Osafo Maafo, both engineers were honoured for distinguishing themselves in their fields and contributing towards the country's development and engineering.

Mr Osafo Maafo, who is also an aspirant of the NPP flag bearer, stressed the need to shift emphasis on the country's educational system in favour of science and technology to speed up the desire to attain a middle-income status by 2015.

Speaking on the topic "reconciling the technocrat and technician to accelerate national development", Mr Osafo Maafo said more should be done in science and technology to harness their full potential and benefits for national development.

He expressed concern about the uneasy calm and tension that existed between technocrats and technicians in engineering, which had resulted in the formation of Ghana Institution of Engineers. Mr Osafo Maafo said there was the need for technocrats and technicians to see themselves as complementing the role of each other in national development.

Mr Osafo Maafo, who is also Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, stressed the need for recognition of the role of the technician and review of their training to ensure they upgrade themselves to become technocrats.

He said the new educational reforms sought to shift emphasis in favour of technical education and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and called for concerted efforts to ensure it succeeds. Professor Andam said the future of Africa and Ghana depended on science and technology; therefore there was the need for leaders to prioritise and promote its development.

He called on African leaders to place more emphasis and provide the needed resources for science and technology to speed up the development of their countries.

Professor Andam appealed to Ghana Institution of Engineers to resolve the differences that existed between technocrats and technicians. Professor W.O Ellis, Pro Vice Chancellor of KNUST, commended Professor Andam and Mr Osafo Maafo for their distinguished services to the country. He said their awards would motivate students to work hard in their endeavours. Professor Ellis called for the full integration of technocrats and technicians into national development agenda.