Renowned US-based Ghanaian Scientist, Entrepreneur and Innovator of Fibre Optic Technologies, Dr. Thomas Mensah, has lauded the government’s initiative of establishing a factory in each district to reduce the high unemployment rate.

He, however, says the initiative can be sustained when the country is able to build a high speed train system to easily link the districts. Dr Mensah was speaking at the 10th R.P. Baffuor Memorial Lectures held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

“The fact that the government has decided to create a factory for every district is highly commendable but the best way to achieve this is by building a high speed train because it will easily link up about 80 percent of districts.”

The renowned US-based Ghanaian scientist and innovator observed Ghana’s under-developed transport system affects productivity.

He believes investments in transport infrastructure, especially high-speed train, will increase income-generation and reduce poverty in Ghana.

Dr Mensah urged the government to consider building high-speed train to move Ghana into the 21st century.

“Ghana cannot continue to rely on only roads as its major means of transport. We need to move to the 21st century by building high speed train to enhance productivity.”

The R.P. Baffuor Memorial Lectures was instituted by the Council of KNUST in 1977 to honour its first Ghanaian Vice-Chancellor for his sound leadership and contribution to the physical development and growth of the University.

The 10th lecture was on the theme: ‘Moving Ghana Into the 21st Century through Modern Infrastructure Development’.