The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), through its School of Technology and Social Sciences (SOTSS), has officially launched the GIMPA Tech Fair & Industry Showcase 2026, signaling a concerted effort to propel national innovation and technology-driven development. The launch event, held on April 16, 2026, at GIMPA, convened approximately 300 stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the student community under the theme “Innovating for Impact: Technology Solutions for Ghana’s Future.”
Setting the Stage for Collaboration
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application, preparing students for the demands of the modern technological landscape. Professor Ebenezer Adaku, Deputy Rector of GIMPA, emphasized the critical need for stronger partnerships between educational institutions and the private sector to foster tangible innovation.
Government’s Digital Ambitions
A key focus of the launch was the articulation of government’s commitment to digital transformation. Ing. Dr. Mark-Oliver Kevor, Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), detailed plans for enhanced digital infrastructure. These include the development of sovereign cloud solutions for government projects and the implementation of policies designed to empower the nation’s youth in the technology sector.
Industry Perspectives on Innovation Pathways
Industry leaders shared valuable insights into the practicalities of bringing innovative solutions to market. Dr. Alfred Dawson Quansah, representing the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), highlighted the increasing availability of data and its potential for predictive analytics and academic research collaborations. He stressed the necessity of “structured pathways to move innovation from the lab to the real world,” advocating for a robust triple-helix model involving academia, industry, and government.
Mr. David Quagraine, Chief Information Officer at Access Bank Ghana, offered an enterprise viewpoint, underscoring the importance of scalability, reliability, and alignment with business needs for successful technology adoption. From an academic standpoint, Dr. Joseph Budu, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at GIMPA, pointed out that successful technology deployment hinges on aligning systems with user needs and institutional realities.
The Voice of Emerging Innovators
The event also provided a platform for student innovators. Delphine Mawuli, a Computer Science student, shared the challenges faced by young developers, emphasizing the need for enhanced support systems, including access to funding, mentorship, and industry partnerships.
A Call for Unified Action
A central theme emerging from the discussions was the imperative for strong, collaborative efforts between government, industry, and academia. Participants agreed that government must take a leading role in cultivating an environment conducive to innovation.
Building Towards the Showcase
The launch event serves as a prelude to the main GIMPA Tech Fair & Industry Showcase, scheduled for June 3, 2026. This upcoming event will feature exhibitions of student projects, hackathons, and industry engagements, all aimed at spotlighting practical, technology-driven solutions developed within Ghana.
Looking Ahead
The GIMPA Tech Fair & Industry Showcase 2026 is poised to become a significant platform for nurturing Ghana’s innovation ecosystem. The success of the launch suggests a growing momentum towards leveraging technology for national development, with a clear emphasis on collaborative efforts and practical application. The upcoming fair will be a critical indicator of the progress made in translating these discussions into tangible technological advancements and industry-ready solutions.
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