Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has said the country cannot grow and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) "if we continue to do things the same old way".
He said efforts should be made to bring to the fore innovative ways of improving maternal health and to reduce child mortality, achieve universal primary education, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
Prof Adarkwa said this in a speech read on his behalf at the Seventh College of Engineering Research Retreat (CERR7) of the KNUST in Koforidua on Thursday.
The four-day programme is under the Theme "The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in achieving the MDGs".
Prof Adarkwa called for increased agricultural production, availability and efficient energy production, provision of safe and clean water for all as well as ensuring environmental sustainability.
"For us to develop as a nation and achieve the MDGs there should be a conscious effort in the development of science and technology through innovation".
"To effectively do this requires the training of adequate human resource at all levels of the chain, from the artisan to the consultant".
Prof Adarkwa said the responsibility in achieving a modern Ghana through science, technology and innovation squarely lay at the door step of the KNUST.
"We as a science and technology tertiary institution with the state of the art research equipment hold the key to the nation's advancement into modernity and we have to be very innovative in our approach to finding sustainable solutions to the problems that confront our society today".