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President John Dramani Mahama has expressed confidence that Ghana’s development challenges can be effectively addressed if researchers are provided with adequate financial support.
He made the remarks at the official launch of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF), describing the initiative as a major step toward building a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy.
According to him, the Fund provides a national framework to support knowledge creation, strengthen scientific capacity, and align research with Ghana’s development priorities.
President Mahama tasked the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the GETFund and the Fund’s governing board, to ensure transparent, accountable, and results-oriented management of the resources.
Speaking to scientists, researchers, and academic leaders at the event, he stressed that research must no longer be treated as secondary but as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and national transformation.
“Research must solve problems, create jobs, build industries, and improve lives,” he said.
He referenced the vision of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, noting that early post-independence development efforts were built on the development of local scientific and technical capacity. He also acknowledged the influence of the late President John Evans Atta Mills in advancing the idea behind the Fund.
President Mahama further noted that the legal foundation for the initiative, Act 1056 of 2020, was passed during the previous administration under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
He urged researchers to think beyond grant applications and focus on innovation with real-world impact, calling for breakthroughs in food security, climate-smart agriculture, disease research, and the application of artificial intelligence in governance and public service delivery.
According to him, such innovations should be scalable, commercially viable, and capable of positioning Ghana as a competitive player in global research and development.
Story by Efua Nessa