Mathematics, he noted was a structural science, which solves problems by abstraction and that its universal applicability showed the connecting role for many other sciences, ranging from data and natural sciences.

Others are engineering and information technology, economics and also in social sciences.

Subsequently, he said African governments must channel efforts and resources towards improving education in mathematical sciences to help train talented smart minds with equipment, which were comparatively cheap.

"It is relatively simple to teach and train people in mathematics, because one does not need huge infrastructure, what you need is computers, internet and well-trained experts," he said.

Prof Becherer said this in an interview with the GNA at the opening of a five-day training workshop on 'Gaussian Processes and Applications in Machine Learning' at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) located in Biriwa in the Central Region on Monday.

It is being organised under the framework of the German Research Chair programme at AIMS Ghana and supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Ministry of Education and Research and the DAAD Foundation.

It is being attended by renowned international and national scientific researchers as well as young researchers and graduate students from across Africa who will engage in lectures and tutorial sessions on Python and Octave/Matlab to solve practical application questions.

The workshop will also provide a platform to increase the cooperation between students and researchers in stochastic analysis and applications on one hand and various institutions and research centres on the other hand.

Focus will be on statistical learning, stochastic (Gaussian) processes, and predictive results for applications from machine learning.

"We want to help Africa to develop. We need young talented African people here to take up positions and to lead sustainable development," he added.

Prof Becherer explained that Gaussian processes could be used in geostatistics to evaluate the availability of mineral resources such as gold, bauxite among others in a given location.

Mathematical modules had been used over the years to explain complex everyday problems, but each mathematical module was an idealization that needed to be understood thoroughly by experts or be used by laymen as "black box" he said.

Prof Becherer was optimistic that the workshop would build the competency of participants to solve problems associated with statistical learning, probability theory and computational mathematics in data sciences.

He commended AIMS Ghana for helping to train young talented Africans to contribute to the scientific teaching, research and industry development of the continent.

Dr. Moustapha Dieye of the AIMS Ghana Research Centre also told the GNA in interview that the workshop would be of immense benefit to MSC and MPhil participants especially because Gaussian processes was often not taught in most universities.

 It will therefore provide some examples of how it can be applied in solving problems.

He on behalf of AIMS Ghana, expressed gratitude to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Ministry of Education and Research and the DAAD Foundation for sponsoring that important aspect of research and development.