SACOST Organises Colloquium to Commemorate World Science Day

Prof. Samuel Asiedu-Addo, Deputy Director of IERIS, welcoming participants on behalf of the Director, Prof. Samuel K. Hayford, stated that the purpose of the day was to highlight SACOST's expedition thus far.

“SACOST was the vision of some people and fortunately those who birthed SACOST are all here. So, we are not going to be talking about memorial service here; we are talking about living legends because they are here to tell us how it all started right from the South Campus. They will give us their mission, vision, where they wanted to take SACOST to and what has been achieved so far,” he said. 

Prof. Asiedu-Addo urged the current leadership of SACOST to strive to achieve the goals of UEW through their outfit. “I know that we are going to have a very fruitful discussion today which will serve as a memory to be documented for future generations.” 

The Head of SACOST, Dr. Peter Akayuure, in his address at the symposium, alluded to the formation of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) working group to overcome the challenge of limited staff at the Centre to facilitate effective execution of tasks. 

The first Vice-Chancellor of UEW and founder of SACOST, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, made an elaborate presentation on the topic “SACOST: The Journey so far”. Prof. Anamuah-Mensah spoke on the trajectory of SACOST, the rationale of the journey as well as the essence to promote indigenous knowledge systems. “We have ignored over the years and we seem to be following the dictates of our colonial masters; what they want us to do is what we do, not what we want to do. So, it becomes important for us to look at that.”  

The founder of SACOST stressed the need to recognise that African science and technology was unique and rich with its own particular well-being. Prof. Anamuah-Mensah therefore, indicated that SACOST was set up as a pan-African research and material development centre for the promotion of community science technology in African schools with the ultimate aim of improving science and technology education on the continent. 

“Our job was to produce materials and ensure that our kids can relate to. The mission included bridging the gap between school science and technology education; and science and technology as practised in the society and then identify indigenous informal and formal activities carried out in the society,” he averred.    

The presentation was followed by a round table discussion about the way forward for SACOST with Prof. Kolawole Raheem (former Head of SACOST), Mr. Stephen Dennis (first administrator for SACOST) and Prof. Anamuah-Mensah as panel members.   

Also present were the Deputy Registrar of IERIS, Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah; University Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Alexander Kyei Edwards; Lecturer and moderator for the event, Mrs. Nelly Sekyi-Hagan, Lecturers, non-academic staff and national service personnel.