The President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has laid the foundation stone to start the construction of a state-of-the-art Foundry and Machine Tooling Centre at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), in the Ga East Municipality.

The centre is set to become an essential catalyst for the nation's industrialization agenda being championed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-led government.

The construction of the Computer Numerical Control  (CNC) will be critical to Ghana's industrialization agenda as the manufacturing industry relies heavily on computer-numerical control machining, including operations that once used engineer-operated equipment such as routers, shaping machines, and vertical millers.

It will also facilitate the production of a broad range of metal and plastic elements that become a part of businesses and the general environment.

Foundries on the other hand are established to make metal castings possible. This is essential in metalworking where castings are produced by pouring liquid metal into a mould, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape and then allowing it to cool and solidify.  

This, essentially, implies, Ghana is soon expected to reduce and possibly cease the importation of spare parts and other metals from Asia, the Americas and Europe to feed its industrial growth.

The President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was the Special Guest of Honour, in his keynote address, explained that the facilities will provide technical support for some of the government’s policies.
 
"These facilities and associated workshops will be equipped with tools and machinery to provide agro-processing machines and equipment, farming implements and spare parts for maintenance and repairs. The facilities at this centre will provide technical support for policy initiatives of the government such as the One-District-One-Factory" he stated.

He continued, "The foundry and machine tooling centre will put the nation in a position to develop and grow talented, skilled and innovative Ghanaians who graduate from our schools, colleges and universities".

The President further added that the centre will be key to the future of technology in the country.

"The establishment of this centre is a key component of a much broader strategic framework that is designed to ensure that Ghana’s socio-economic development is driven by science, technology and innovation", he noted.

The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, in his address thanked the President for the centre, stating that it has the potential to be one of his greatest legacies.
 
"I will like to thank the President for the opportunity to put up this centre. We will certainly not disappoint him and the Nation. This is the journey to industrialization and there is no turning back. This centre will change the country forever. This also has the potential to be one of His Execellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s greatest ever legacies", he remarked.

The Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Prof. Benjamin J. B. Nyarko, praised the President for championing the construction of the centre.

"His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the first Head of State to visit GAEC since 1976. We are highly encouraged by his visit. He has demonstrated a huge commitment to the progress of nuclear science and technology in Ghana. I thank him for his enormous support in the Ghana Nuclear Programme", he said.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, told GEMANEWS the municipality was blessed to have the President and Vice visit four times within a year and especially for the numerous massive development projects been undertaken in the municipality within the first term of the Nana Addo administration.

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei, Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Hon. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Okwei Kinkawe Dowuona, Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bontey, Greater Accra Regional NADMO Director, Hon. Archibold Cobbina, the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Matthew Tay, the Presiding Member (PM), Hon. Jesse Nii Noi Anum, and NPP Dome-Kwabenya Constituency Chairman, Mr. Robert Osei Bonsu.

End. 

By: Okunyin Boaz Orlan-Hackman/Andrew Tagoe

Pictures: Benjamin Andoh Takyi