The speakers noted that mathematics ensured the efficiency of all things especially in the fields of science, engineering and technology which were needed for the development of the nation. In an address read on his behalf, the President of the Ghana Mathematical Society (GMS), Professor Sitsofe Anku, said 'the scenario where many students failed in mathematics both internationally and locally was not acceptable. It was read on his behalf at the celebration of the day by the Evangelical Presbyterian Mawuko Girls Senior High School on the theme, "Mathematics, the leading edge in national development," at the weekend. Professor Anku said all contemporary issues of development could be modeled mathematically and these models used to ensure efficient development on issues of health, sanitation, flooding, water supply, road construction, depletion of natural resources, education, and agriculture and population growth, among others. He said the nation could not run away from the reality of teaching Mathematics for understanding and application, the professional development of the subject and the revision of its curriculum to make it coherent and relevant to development needs.
He pleaded for the support of Ghanaians to help revamp mathematics education in the country and that, efforts by the GMS to remove the fear and trauma of studying mathematics and the application. of mathematics to ensure the efficient development of Ghana must be embraced by all. The Head of the Department of Mathematics at Mawuko Girls, Madam Patricia Kodjo, expressed dissatisfaction that Ghana placed 44th among 45 countries in international Mathematics and Science Study conducted in 2003. She therefore said the day offered the opportunity for teachers to share and promote good teaching and learning with one another with students, colleagues and the wider community. Madam Kodjo said it was a day to explore with students to discover how mathematics was useful in various occupations. The Guest Speaker, Reverend Father Dr Paul Agbodza, dispelled the notion that mathematics was for a group of people and that people were born with it or that only boys could do mathematics. He said society had created a myth on the subject and caused part of society to develop a phobia for it and that the time had come to break all those artificial barriers.
Rev. Dr Agbodza, who is a mathematics expert, urged students to use computers to facilitate the learning of mathematics. The Headmistress of the school, Madam Janet Kwasi, urged students to practice mathematics regularly because apart from scoring good grades they could earn international recognition for developing expertise in it.
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