Correspondence from the Western Region

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, says Ghana is determined to build the capacity to develop and control emerging technologies rather than rely on foreign expertise.

Speaking at the launch of the Robotech Lab at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, Sam George stressed that the country must position itself within the rapidly evolving global digital economy driven by robotics, automation, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

According to him, countries that integrate these technologies into their education and industrial systems will gain a competitive advantage, while those that delay risk technological dependence.

“We will not be passive consumers of emerging technologies. We will build the capacity to design, deploy and govern them,” the Minister stated.

The Robotech Lab is being implemented through a partnership involving the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and German technology firm ibes AG, in collaboration with UMaT.

Sam George said the initiative supports the government’s broader digital transformation strategy, which focuses on expanding digital infrastructure, accelerating digital skills development and strengthening innovation ecosystems to support high-value technology industries.

He noted that while infrastructure and policy reforms remain important, the real driver of digital transformation is human capital.

He disclosed that UMaT has already started training about 300 students in digital skills and intends to train 1,000 by the end of the year. However, the Ministry will provide logistical support to help the university expand the programme to train up to 5,000 students within the same period.

Sam George explained that robotics and automation are becoming critical tools for improving productivity and efficiency across sectors such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and energy.

The Head of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Dr Emmanuel Effah, says the newly established Robotech Lab will significantly enhance practical training and innovation among students in the department.

According to him, the facility is critical to supporting the department’s growing programmes in areas such as robotics and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, and information systems and technology.

Despite limited resources, he noted that students in the department have already demonstrated strong capabilities in robotics, embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies through projects developed with Arduino and Raspberry Pi starter kits.

He pointed out that the Robotech Lab will help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industrial applications by providing access to industry-scale automation systems and enterprise-level robotic platforms.

“Even with the little we have, we are already doing very well, but there is a need to close the gap between theory and practical industry experience,” Dr Effah said.

Dr Effah added that the Robotech Lab will also encourage student innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling students to develop products, technologies or even start companies before graduating.

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