“Conduct high-quality research to address the continent's specific challenges” – MESTI Minister
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Hon. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, has implored African scientists to conduct high-quality research and apply their findings to address the continent's specific challenges.
The Minister made this call at the celebration of the Day of Scientific Renaissance Africa (DSRA) programme in Accra. The Day was instituted by the African Union in 1987 and is observed annually on June 30th to reflect the continent’s contribution to the development of modern Science and Technology. The celebration was under the theme "Leveraging Science and Technology for Wealth Creation,”
CSIR in collaboration with MESTI, hosted the celebration alongside the 94th Executive Board Meeting of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO). In line with the theme for the celebration, CSIR organised a 3-day exhibition and free training sessions to showcase the transforming power of science and technology for wealth creation and the organization’s contribution to the development of Science and Technology in the country.
Speaking at the event, the Hon. Minister highlighted the critical role of science and technology in sectors such as agriculture, health, trade and industry, infrastructure development, energy, environmental management, and information communication technology. She stressed the need for effective application of science and technology in these areas for wealth creation in Africa.
The Honourable Minister, MESTI delivering the keynote address
The Minister underscored the importance of exploring sustainable funding sources for research institutions in Ghana and reducing reliance on external funding. She commended the CSIR and other scientific organizations for their significant contributions to the country's development.
For his part the Director-General-CSIR, Professor Paul P. Bosu, stated that CSIR has launched an ambitious endowment fund, the CSIR Science for Impact Fund (CSIF), with a target of raising $20 million over the next five years as part of efforts to ensure sustainable funding sources and boost scientific research development in the country. The fund he reiterated, is designed to identify and support impactful research projects and technological innovations that can drive industrial growth and promote sustainable economic development.
Prof. Bosu expressed his gratitude to the scientific community for their ongoing efforts and restated the importance of the activities planned for the celebration, which aimed to further the development and application of science and technology in Africa.
Prof. Paul Bosu, addressing participants
In his address, the Chairman of the CSIR Governing Council, Prof. Robert Kingsford-Adaboh, said, for the impact of scientists to be realised, there was a need for them to be linked with entrepreneurship. “Scientists are the best innovators, entrepreneurs and industry must coordinate. There is still a wide gap between academia and industry,” he stated.
The participants after the programme
The Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) was instituted by African Union in 1987 for African nations to reflect the continent’s contribution to the development of modern Science and Technology. It was commissioned during the 46th Ordinary Session of the Organisation of African Union, now the African Union, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1987, for Member States to commit to the celebration of Africa’s Day of Scientific Renaissance on June 30, every year.
Source: Corporate Affairs Division
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