The Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said that Government is set to invest 1 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research and innovation programs that accredit the country.

According to the minister, Ghanaians must invest more in stimulating the development of innovation and technology locally, speaking at the 10th Economic Forum here in Accra, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah also called on Ghanaians to support Young entrepreneurs.

He said “we must invest more in stimulating the development of innovation and technology locally. On the part of the government, the cabinet has decided to apply 1 per cent of GDP towards research and innovation programs, it is a bold step in the face and we must do if we truly want to revert, we will however use the elementary effort of academia and private sector to help fund the new frontiers of locally developed innovation and technology, and so business incubators, technology, coding hubs, innovation competition for young people must be supported by all of us.”

He added that “We at the ministry of information believe that more of our money collectively, public sector and private sector, more of our attention, more of our promotion, must go towards these areas if we are to harvest the fruit of entrepreneurship and really gain significance and results in the private sector growth agenda.”

He further cautioned young entrepreneurs to desist from amplifying social media beefs.

“A nation that spends all its time discussing issues that do not align with its true value drivers, will hardly motivate its teeming youth to align with those true value drivers. If entrepreneurship, private business, innovation, and technology are the most significant pillars in economic recovery, then our best energies, our best attention must be directed there”

According to him, our public conversations on traditional media, digital media, and all other platforms must reflect what we believe is the most important value driver for our economic transformation.

“We cannot spend all our time discussing allegations, suspicions of one another and for the younger ones, we cannot spend all our time amplifying social media beefs and expect that entrepreneurship will gain its pride of place in our national life. We must make it the most important national conversation if we truly want entrepreneurship and private sector development to take its rightful place .“

Source: Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm/Govt