The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, has disclosed that parliament has passed the National Research Fund Act (Act 1056).
The fund provides the main source of funding for the development of Ghana’s Innovation Eco-system. The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to operationalize it.
He disclosed this at the 2023 Ghana STIRS Commercialization Partnership Roundtable in Accra on Wednesday.
Dr Afriyie stated that the growth of the Ghanaian economy must be anchored on the strategic application of Science, Technology and Innovation.
That, he said, would culminate in the transformation of the ethos of the nation into “Ghana, a Nation of Innovation.”
According to the Minister, the government has set a 10-year target within which Science, Technology and Innovation would account for the largest part of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He stated that the government is set to strengthen the country’s Innovation Eco-System by establishing robust and functioning innovation support programmes.
“We plan to develop nationwide infrastructure to support innovation, train our youth, and equip them with the tools for creating sustainable innovations. We will reinforce this by introducing major curricula reforms throughout our formal educational system with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematica and Innovation,” he added.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
