Scientific Renaissance Day marked

The scientific community has reiterated calls for adequate financing and the necessary resources to push all areas of science and technology applications to boost development and reduce poverty in the country.

The Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Prof. Paul P. Bosu, who made the call on behalf of the community, explained that leveraging science and technology for sectors such as agriculture, health, trade and industry was the solution to the poverty countries in Africa faced.

Prof. Bosu was speaking at the celebration of the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) in Accra last Monday. He said the lack of adequate financing to resource all areas that needed science and technology applications was the major challenge facing African countries.

“Leveraging science and technology, using technologies from research for improved agricultural productivity and agro-processing in rural areas are sure ways of creating wealth.

There cannot be good science without adequate infrastructure and resources,” the CSIR Director-General explained. He said the CSIR had taken steps to create an endowment fund that would provide sustainable resources to support the council’s programmes in years ahead.

“To show Ghana and the rest of the world that we mean business, the staff of CSIR have committed to voluntarily contribute one per cent of their basic salaries into the fund, for up to five years,” he said.

Commendation

Speaking on the theme: ”Leveraging Science and Technology for wealth creation, the Minister of Environment, Science Technology & Innovation (MESTI), Ophelia Hayford, reiterated the crucial role of science and technology in global advancement.

She said the ministry had played its role through its core mandate in promoting science, technology and innovation in all sectors of the economy. “MESTI’s multiplicity of roles and cross-cutting nature provide an opportunity for our agencies to continue to play their various roles effectively,” Mrs Hayford, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, said.

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She commended the contributions of major stakeholders, especially scientists, and encouraged them to play the leading role in their quest for national development. “The lessons of COVID-19 have brought to bear the need for the science community to do more.

As the sector minister, I assure you of my support at all times. I look forward to the various initiatives to mainstream science and technology in all aspects of national development,” the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation stated.

Impact

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 the industry must coordinate. There is still a wide gap between academia and industry,” he stated. Prof. Adaboh also called for technical education to be encouraged to be part of education to bring about innovation.