Young scientists urged to tackle misinformation, support SDGs

The Vice-President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), Professor Alfred Apau Oteng Yeboah, has charged members of the Ghana Young Academy (GhYA) to actively confront misinformation, engage policy processes early and contribute evidence-based solutions to Ghana’s development challenges as the country approaches the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the increasing circulation of unverified scientific claims in public discourse undermined informed decision-making and placed a responsibility on academics, particularly young researchers, to critically interrogate, verify and communicate accurate information to the public.

Prof Yeboah was speaking at the 9th Induction Ceremony and 10th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Young Academy, held on Wednesday, January 29, on the theme “Strengthening Scientific Leadership for Sustainable Development in Ghana.”

Ceremony

The ceremony brought together fellows of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, members of the Ghana Young Academy, policymakers and researchers from across the country.

As part of the event, 23 new members drawn from diverse disciplines and institutions were inducted, reinforcing the academy’s commitment to inclusivity, interdisciplinary collaboration and national development.

Misinformation

Speaking at the ceremony last Wednesday, January 29, Prof Yeboah cautioned against the growing spread of misinformation, particularly in relation to public health issues, describing it as a serious threat to public understanding and sound decision-making.

He cited recent public commentary suggesting that the consumption of kokonte, a cassava-based local dish, could cure type 2 diabetes.

He clarified that while cassava and its derivatives had nutritional value, there was no scientific evidence to support claims that it could eliminate the disease.

Prof Yeboah commended the University of Ghana Medical School for issuing a rejoinder to correct the misinformation, noting that such interventions were critical to protecting public health and maintaining trust in scientific institutions.

Concerns

Prof Yeboah also raised concerns about developments in synthetic biology, particularly the growing use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI), which he said posed challenges to equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources.

He explained that DSI allowed researchers and companies to access genetic information from digital databases without referencing the country of origin, thereby excluding resource-rich countries from benefiting from innovations derived from their biological materials.

He said the practice weakened international agreements on access and benefit-sharing and called for stronger global and national frameworks to protect the interests of countries such as Ghana.

Role

Prof Yeboah urged members of the GhYA to critically engage with Ghana’s national development plans, the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063, and to assess the country’s progress in addressing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, illegal mining, plastic pollution and water insecurity.

He emphasised that with less than five years to the 2030 SDG deadline, the country would be required to account for its progress, stressing that young scientists must contribute practical, evidence-based solutions rather than remain passive observers.

Principles

Delivering a keynote address, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences at KNUST and a founding member of the GhYA, Professor Christian Agyare, said the work of the academy was guided by the three core principles of excellence with relevance, interdisciplinarity and service beyond self.

On excellence with relevance, Prof Agyare said the academy promoted research that met international standards while remaining responsive to Ghana’s socio-economic realities.

He explained that members were encouraged to align their research with national priorities to ensure that academic outputs informed health policy, environmental management, education reform, innovation and industrial development.

He added that the Ghana Young Academy also served as a hub for mentorship and capacity building, offering training in science communication, leadership, grant writing and public engagement skills critical for societal impact but often underemphasised in traditional academic training.