Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Ghana’s Minister of Energy, and a 20-member delegation comprising senior officials, visited The UWI St Augustine campus on February 23 to discuss opportunities for collaboration between his country and the university.
Dr Prempeh, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Manhyia South constituency in the Ashanti Region, met with the deans of several faculties as well as other faculty members. His team included representatives from the Ghanaian Embassy in Cuba, and from Ghanaian companies Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Company (BEST) and GOIL Good Energy.
Mr Kuarlal Rampersad, Chair of the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP), spoke on behalf of the SMRP chapter, its ties to Ghana, and the potential collaborations with The UWI.
“This visit marked a crucial milestone in strengthening the ties between the Government of Ghana and The UWI, especially in the areas of energy and education,” a statement from the St Augustine campus explained. “The UWI aims to foster this connection and solidify future collaborations with Ghana in hopes of establishing the exchange of knowledge, research opportunities, innovation, economic development, and increased global visibility.”
Dr Prempeh brought a wealth of experience and expertise in the energy sector, the statement said, and his visit to the university served as a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The Ghanaian Minister of Energy emphasised the deep historical connections between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago. He highlighted personal familial ties and discussed the numerous opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, cocoa, medicine, and sustainability.
