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Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, says the country would make remarkable steps in socio-economic growth, if science was recognised as the basis for solving problems.

The minister said this when he cut the sod to commission Ghana’s first ever Museum of Light and Light based Technologies, in Accra.

The ceremony was performed along-side the observation of the International Day of Light and Light Based Technology.

He observed that it was important to approach problem solving with the cause and effect principle, or by using the scientific approach, because that guaranteed logical and trustworthy solutions.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said once the world was currently driven by science and technology, one core requirement for any country to progress, was through becoming proficient in the application of science and technology.

“The government would soon come out with a policy where every ministry would approach its work scientifically, he said.

 Touching on the celebration, he said “we are here to tell the world that many things are driven by light, especially in the present electronic world that we live in.

He said apart from light being a basic need, it is used in several areas of human endeavour and in nature, and noted there was the need for extensive education and information on the subject, towards the advancement and betterment of human existence.

Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education, recalled that the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies(IYL), was proposed on the floor of UNESCO by Ghana, by a team that comprised the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the African Physical Society and Mexico.

He mentioned the rest as the Russia Federation, and New Zealand Delegations to the 190th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board.

Dr. Opoku-Prempeh said upon the success of the world-wide celebration of the event, Ghana and other proponents further moved for the sustenance of the momentum of the IYL by presenting again to UNESCO during the 200th session of the Executive Board in 2016, the need to observe an International Day of Light on May 16th every year, starting from 2018.

“We are happy it also received world-wide support.  The Day of Light is Ghana’s project and I hope it will be religiously observed by the scientific community, as a way of promoting the study of the basic sciences, especially amongst girls and women,” he said.

Mr. Kwame Sowu, Chairman of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, said the Ghana Museums and Management Board (GMMB) was working on a new policy that would allow the GMMB to collect items from organizations and private individuals for exhibition in the country’s museums.