The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has charged newly sworn in members of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to be circumspect in their line of duty and ensure massive economic growth even as government is set to increase research funding to 1 percent of GDP.
The President earlier affirmed that the current 0.38 percent of the country’s GDP channeled into research and development will be increased to one percent.
This was after a majority of researchers had described as woefully inadequate, the 0.38 percent allocated to research funding.
But Professor Frimpong Boateng who spoke to Citi Business News at the sidelines of the swearing in of the twenty-one member board added that the board must ensure the 1 percent GDP is put into good use.
“A lot is expected of them; if Ghana is going to change, a lot will depend upon CSIR. Because as we said, the poverty gap is a technology gap, if we are able to bridge the technology gap then we can link up with the rest of the world. So this is about science, technology and innovation and they are the people who are going to help us drive that agenda.”
“The president has said that he is devoting 1 percent of GDP towards research and development and we know that when we get this fund running, then a lot of people can be helped.” he stated.
Some of the members of the board include; Professor Kingsford-Adaboh, Dr. Victor Kwame Agyemang, Mr. Wilson Atta Krofah of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) Mr. Harrison Dapaah of the University of Energy and Natural Resources representing Heads of Universities in Ghana.
Others are; Professor P.K. Buah Bossuoh, Ms. Salimata Abdul-Salam, Mr. Benjamin Kofi Gyasi, Mr. Benjamin Kwadwo Heh, Dr. Reginald Nii Otoo Odai, Dr. Isaac Frimpong Mensa-Bonsu, Professor Mohammed Salifu, Dr. George Owusu Essegbey, Dr. Edward Yeboah and Mr. Sampson Kwaku Agodzo.
The rest are Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, Mr. Delali Kofi Nutsukpo, Dr. Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo, Mr. Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, Professor Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko and Dr. Ibok Nsa Oduro.
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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana