Julius Debrah calls for stronger university-industry partnerships

Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Dr. Julius Debrah, has called for stronger collaboration between universities, industry and government to accelerate innovation and national development.

Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the investiture of Professor Christian Agyare as the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Debrah said closer partnerships were essential if Ghana was to unlock the full value of research and create sustainable employment.

He observed that universities, businesses and government institutions had too often operated independently, limiting opportunities to translate research into practical solutions for national challenges.

“These three communities have too often operated in separate worlds. Researchers study problems industry may never hear about. Businesses face technical challenges while expertise sits nearby on a university campus. Students graduate with strong theory but too little exposure to the places where they will work,” he said.

Dr. Debrah stressed that bridging those gaps would strengthen innovation, improve workforce readiness and support Ghana’s industrial growth agenda.

“We must close those gaps,” he stated.

He said government would continue supporting research aligned with national priorities through the Ghana National Research Fund and other emerging mechanisms but noted that public funding alone would not be enough to drive meaningful transformation.

Dr. Debrah urged companies to work more closely with universities by helping to shape relevant academic programmes, providing quality internship opportunities, supporting laboratory development, co-financing research and assisting promising innovations to reach the market.

“Industry must come closer to the University. Companies should help shape relevant curricula, provide meaningful internships, support laboratories, co-finance research and help promising innovations reach the market,” he said.

He also challenged universities to remain attentive to the needs of Ghanaian industry while safeguarding their academic independence and commitment to solving practical problems.

Dr. Debrah further encouraged KNUST alumni to return as mentors, investors, partners and advocates capable of connecting the university with industry and expanding opportunities for students and researchers.

He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration among academia, industry and government would enable KNUST to produce research that delivers practical solutions, drives enterprise and contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.