Mahama draws inspiration from Singapore’s education, innovation model

President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghana to adopt innovative education and research models after drawing inspiration from Singapore’s advancements in applied learning and technology.

Currently in Singapore for a three-day state visit, President Mahama addressed the Africa Singapore Business Forum on Tuesday before touring the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He explored how the institution blends classroom learning with real-world experience and fosters strong ties between universities and industries.

“SIT’s integration of work and study, focus on applied research, and close collaboration with industry are preparing students to be both work-ready and future-ready,” he said.

President Mahama also visited SIT’s ultra-modern campus at Punggol Digital District, where academia, business, and community are seamlessly integrated to equip young people for the future job market.

At Biopolis, Singapore’s biomedical research hub, President Mahama observed how private companies and public institutions collaborate across the entire life sciences value chain — from groundbreaking research to clinical innovations and medical technologies.

Reflecting on the lessons from his visit, President Mahama stressed the need for Ghana to strengthen partnerships between universities and industry, promote practical learning, and align research efforts with the nation’s development agenda. He commended former Education Minister Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang for laying a solid foundation for reforms and called for sustained investment in education.

“We must focus on programmes that create jobs, improve lives, and drive innovation through coordinated public–private partnerships,” he added.

President Mahama expressed gratitude to his hosts at SIT and Biopolis, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to building strategic collaborations that enhance higher education, boost health research, and drive economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, has disclosed that to ensure that all citizens have equal opportunities in education, the Government of Ghana has drawn plans to establish a university in every region.

Speaking as an invited guest during the Erasmus+ Pre-departure Orientation at the EU Residence in Accra on Tuesday, the Deputy Minister said the move will enable all citizens to have access to education, irrespective of their background.

“We also have this policy of ensuring that every region in the Republic has a university. That is because we want to ensure that we create as many equal opportunities for all Ghanaians, regardless of where you’re born, your religion or your creed, and your background,” Dr. Apaak said at the event.

He expressed appreciation to the European Union for its immense contribution to Ghana’s education agenda.

To the students who had been under the programme to study abroad, he urged them to embrace challenges as part of the learning process.

Dr. Apaak encouraged the beneficiaries to leverage their study in Europe to widen their knowledge, build relationships and demonstrate innovation as they blend in and make their mark.

He reminded them as a graduate student in Norway himself, he had gained impactful experience from his time in the Scandinavian country by connecting with several nationals across Europe.