Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House, Dr Julius Debrah, has challenged the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to ensure its research translates into jobs, businesses and practical solutions.
Dr Julius Debrah highlighted that while Ghana’s economy is showing signs of recovery, the country’s growth would only be meaningful if it created employment opportunities and improved livelihoods.
According to Dr Julius Debrah, KNUST is indispensable to achieving that goal, particularly through research and innovation that respond to national development needs.
Delivering a speech on behalf of President John Mahama at the investiture of Professor Christian Agyare as the 13th Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, the Chief of Staff stated, “We cannot be satisfied with an economy that grows on paper while too many young people remain outside its opportunities. Our task is to convert growth into jobs, knowledge into enterprise and national progress into visible improvements in people’s lives”.
“We need research that does not end with a thesis on a shelf. Ideas must move from laboratories into prototypes, patents, products and successful businesses,” he stated.
The Chief of Staff explained that discoveries in pharmacy, engineering, agriculture and digital technology should be developed into practical solutions capable of strengthening industries.
He noted that research achieves its highest purpose only when it directly benefits society, creating opportunities for citizens and supporting national development.
He further called for stronger collaboration among universities, industry and government to ensure research addresses real-world challenges.
Also, Dr Julius Debrah noted that KNUST has a pivotal role in supporting the government’s 24-Hour Economy programme.
The Chief of Staff stressed that the 24-Hour Economy programme could only succeed if universities such as KNUST produced research and innovations that addressed the practical needs of industry.
He explained, “The Government’s 24-Hour Economy Programme is designed to increase productive capacity, support continuous industrial activity and create quality employment at scale. Manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and digital technology are central to this vision”.
“But factories do not run on policy statements. Industries grow through knowledge, technology, skilled people, patient investment and practical innovation. KNUST must help provide them,” Dr Debrah stated.
Meanwhile, Mike Ocquaye Jnr, the former Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, has expressed concerns over the 24-hour economy secretariat.
According to Mike Ocquaye Jnr, the 24-hour economy secretariat is rather earning than working for the good people of Ghana.
Mike Ocquaye Jnr argued that various sectors of the economy are disappointed in the current government, following the high hopes it gave to the people during the 2024 campaign season.
The NPP stressed that it is about time the president begins fulfilling his promises to the people of Ghana or be called out for his failure.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on June 20, 2026, Mike Oquaye Jnr stated, “Look at the real situation on the ground. 24-hour economy, what is going on there? Nothing, and when we sit in this economy, where now the secretariat itself is earning rather than working, then these are points people are going to be worried about in terms of approval”.
“We wish President Mahama well in the things that he says that he will do, but he must do them, otherwise some of us will point them out either here or even in parliament and explain to him that you said you’ll do this, you said you’ll bring boreholes in the middle of cocoa farms and use the water to water the cocoa farms, is it flowers?
You can never water cocoa with water holes. Cocoa farmers are disappointed, cashew farmers are disappointed, and many sectors of our economy are disappointed. The honeymoon period is now, so let us see what happens in the future,” he said.
@ghnow_ Day 2: Kristo Asafo celebrates successful burial of Apostle Safo Kantanka #GHNow #FYP ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ What was Adwoa Safo saying here 🤔 at the funeral of Safo Kantanka #GHNow #FYP ♬ original sound – KSS.
