The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has named a newly established Infrastructure Research Hub at its Department of Planning after the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye, in recognition of his contributions to development planning and infrastructure provision in the country.

The facility, known as the Asenso-Boakye Infrastructure Research Hub, was officially inaugurated on Monday, March 16, 2026, as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen research capacity and policy innovation in infrastructure development.

The hub is the second major academic support initiative delivered by Mr Asenso-Boakye to the Department of Planning within a year following the establishment of the Asenso-Boakye Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Laboratory in 2025.

Established through a partnership between the Bantama Asenso-Boakye Foundation and the Department of Planning, the research hub is designed to support research and collaboration in areas such as infrastructure planning, sustainable housing development, transport systems, and urban management.

The facility comprises four well-furnished offices, a staff reception area, and modern research facilities equipped with advanced computer systems, specialised software applications, printers, and other equipment to support academic research and professional collaboration.

Address

Addressing the gathering at the forecourt of the Amphitheatre of the new College of Art and Built Environment (CABE) during the inauguration, Mr Asenso-Boakye emphasised that the initiative formed part of a broader effort to bridge the gap between academic research and infrastructure development in the country.

He indicated that universities played a crucial role in generating ideas and policy solutions that shaped national development, stressing that the research hub would serve as a platform for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, industry players, and development practitioners.

Mr Asenso-Boakye said the centre would support research in key areas, including urban planning, sustainable housing, transport systems, energy infrastructure, digital connectivity, and climate-resilient development.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, commended Mr Asenso-Boakye for his sustained commitment to advancing planning education and research at KNUST.

He described the establishment of the research hub as a significant contribution that would enhance the university’s capacity to undertake policy-relevant research and to develop practical solutions to Ghana’s growing urban and infrastructure challenges.

In a similar vein, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi, commended Mr Asenso-Boakye for the initiative and emphasised the need for policymakers to champion similar efforts that promoted research-driven development.

He stated that many developed countries began their transformation through similar investments in research and innovation, which later shaped their national development policies and infrastructure systems.

The Asenso-Boakye Infrastructure Research Hub is expected to serve as a centre for interdisciplinary research and innovation, supporting students, faculty and development practitioners in developing sustainable solutions to Ghana’s infrastructure and urban development needs.