GSTEP Awards: Talent exists everywhere; opportunity must do the same – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education Dr. Clement Apaak has called for equal access to STEM education. He said every Ghanaian child deserves the opportunity to develop their potential.

Government is determined to ensure that opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education are extended to every part of the country, regardless of a learner’s location or background, Deputy Minister for Education Dr. Clement Apaak has stated.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Prize (GSTEP) Exhibition and Awards Ceremony held at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Apaak said Ghana possesses enormous youthful talent that must be nurtured through equitable access to quality education and innovation platforms.

The event, held on the theme “Curiosity to Impact: STEM Without Borders,” also celebrated five years of the GSTEP initiative, which promotes creativity, scientific inquiry and problem-solving among students.

Addressing participants, Dr. Apaak said his engagements with students across the country have convinced him that Ghanaian learners have the ability to excel when given the necessary support.

“As I walk through this exhibition and engage with the projects on display, I do not merely see classroom assignments or competition entries. I see innovation. I see ingenuity. I see practical solutions to real-world challenges. Most importantly, I see the immense potential of Ghana’s next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” he said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the challenge facing many young people is not a lack of ability but limited access to opportunities and resources.

“Across the country, I have had the opportunity to interact with young innovators at robotics competitions, digital learning conferences, research exhibitions, and STEM festivals. The lesson has been consistent. Ghanaian students are not lacking in talent. They are not lacking in creativity. What they often need is opportunity, exposure, mentorship, and access to resources,” Dr. Apaak stated.

He therefore called for deliberate efforts to ensure that opportunities available to students are not concentrated in only a few schools or regions.

“Our collective responsibility, therefore, is to ensure that these opportunities are not limited to a few schools, a few communities, or a few regions. Talent exists everywhere, and opportunity must do the same,” he stressed.

Dr. Apaak noted that expanding access to STEM education forms part of government’s broader vision of creating an education system that promotes inclusion, innovation and equal opportunities for all learners.

He commended the DreamOval Foundation, Foundation Botnar, Partnership Bureau, Practical Education Network, Shulem Lake and other partners for sustaining the GSTEP initiative over the past five years, describing the programme as an important platform for discovering and nurturing young innovators.

The Deputy Minister encouraged stakeholders to continue investing in programmes that expose students to practical STEM learning, saying such initiatives would help unlock the full potential of Ghana’s youth and contribute to national development.

He also urged students to remain curious, continue asking questions and pursue innovative solutions to challenges facing their communities, assuring them that government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for every learner to succeed.