CSIR to Provide Scientific Research to Support AAC's Rice Project in Ghana

CSIR to Provide Scientific Research to Support AAC's Rice Project in Ghana

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has entered into an agreement to collaborate with the Asian-African Consortium (AAC) to support the development of the AAC's rice project in Ghana. This partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at a ceremony held at the CSIR Head Office in Accra.

Prof. Bosu, Director-General, CSIR and CEO of AAC, Mrs. Adelaide Siaw-Agyepong

The CEO of AAC, Mrs. Adelaide Siaw-Agyepong, expressed confidence in the partnership and highlighted the immense value that CSIR's scientific research will add to the project. Per the agreement CSIR will facilitate AAC's collaboration with various CSIR institutes across the country, provide training, technical assistance and advisory services in research and development to AAC through their team of expert scientists and to provide support to AAC funded projects.

"The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and Exchange Agreement between our two institutions today, marks the beginning of a partnership that in our opinion, will lead to numerous new cooperative research projects that create new synergies and enhance the economic and research value of both AAC and CSIR, as well as value for the nation, in the years ahead." She concluded.

Group photo of CSIR and  AAC executives and staff

Prof. Paul P. Bosu, the Director-General of CSIR, indicated that the two institutions will identify common areas of collaboration to address their overall mandate and develop a plan for collaborative operations. The agreement will also detail the scope and principles of engagement between the two parties.

In his address, Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies, called on Ghanaians to be part of the solution and to support the initiative to make Ghana self-sufficient in rice and other crops' production. This, he said was key to help tackle the growing inflation issues and the food importation reliance in Ghana today.

Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies giving his address at the ceremony

“We have come to support and develop you. We have engaged all stakeholders to get to this level and are cooperating with existing structures and institutions. CSIR has the fullest competencies to solve these issues and Ghanaians are on the right path” He challenged CSIR to help AAC produce and over-produce rice, so that importation could come to an end.

Source: Corporate Affairs Division, CSIR Head Office