The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu is charging postgraduate students to focus on accelerated development in their research activities.

Speaking at the launch of the 29^th KNUST Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG-KNUST) week celebration, he noted such research is key in generating wealth.

Mr. Osei-Owusu observed that there is a gap between academic qualification and solutions to local problems.

“General graduate education is to help to think and apply your thinking to the environment to create solutions.

“Somehow, we seem to hold the certificate without applying the principles to the ground to achieve results.

“Every graduate is going round with the certificate to search for a job while the certificate was meant to create jobs,” he said.

The celebration is under the theme: “The Role of the Postgraduate in Africa’s Economy.”

Mr. Osei-Owusu urged postgraduate degree holders to take advantage of government programmes like National Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NEIP) to make their dreams a reality.

“It is intended to give a space for people who have ideas to implement them. But a step must be taken before the policy can be useful,” he noted.

Vice President of GRASAG KNUST, Clifford Isaac Fosu noted that the Association has been instrumental in the upward ranking of the University.

He attributed it to the different activities organized by GRASAG to enhance the research capacity of the students.

He again assured that GRASAG is in talks with the University’s Management to review the postgraduate fees payment plan.

“They cannot put all of us together with the undergraduates because their fees are lower than ours.

“We are still talking to the school Management to review that policy so that the postgraduate student can have some flexibility,” he said.