Accra, Dec.31, GNA- Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, on Friday stressed the need for government to establish machine and tools centres, to encourage innovations in science and technology.

"No nation can ever develop without the capacity to develop machines," he said, during panel discussion on "Science, Technology and Accelerated Wealth Creation", at the on-going 56th Annual New Year School at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said although the various President's Initiatives (PSIs) were well intended and encouraging, there must be an initiative on the manufacturing of machines, since "the country's poverty gap is a technological gap".

The School is being organised by the Institute of Adult Education of the University on the broad theme: " Wealth Creation for Accelerated National Development: Imperatives and Challenges."

He said there was no serious scientific research in Ghana to utilise local resources for development.

He said the national economic structure had not changed over the last 40 years, explaining that Ghana was still seeking ways to attract foreign direct investments, donor support and promotion of traditional crops.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said any country lacking knowledge and capital could not attract major investments. "We should not pride ourselves as an agriculture nation; there is nothing else we can do as a nation if we do not develop science and technology."

He appealed to politicians not to spend resources to get political power rather they must lead the way, for a legacy of prosperity for posterity.

"Politicians should learn to see beyond the next election."

Ms Dorothy Gordon, Director-General of the Ghana Indian Centre of Excellence in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) said Ghana should use information and technology as a very strong service to do business and generate wealth. ICT she said was now a whole new way of doing everything. Ms Gordon called for innovative means of using ICT to generate wealth adding, "the new wealth of Ghana is in the creativity of our people."

Prof. Kwesi Andam, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who was the participating Chairman for the discussion, called for a permanent inter-party body to update the strategy for applying science and technology.

He also suggested the need for a national science and technology policy report to frequently update, advise and report on the nation's progress as an emerging economy.