The government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting scientific research and innovation, highlighting the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as central to Ghana’s development agenda.
The declaration followed a meeting on Friday, December 19, 2025, between the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, and CSIR leadership, led by Director-General Prof. Paul Pinnock Bosu.
CSIR, Ghana’s premier public research institution, was established during the era of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and operates through thirteen specialised institutes nationwide, focusing on critical sectors such as agriculture, health, industry, and environmental sustainability.
During the meeting, CSIR officials expressed gratitude for government support, particularly the operationalisation of the Ghana Research Fund, which is expected to boost funding for research and innovation across the country.
The CSIR team also welcomed the opportunity to participate in recent World Food Programme engagements, noting that the experience strengthened the institution’s international collaboration and visibility.
However, officials raised concerns about staffing constraints and ageing infrastructure, highlighting challenges that could affect the institution’s capacity to deliver cutting-edge research.
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman commended CSIR for its transformative work and emphasised the critical role of research in addressing Ghana’s most pressing challenges, including food security, public health, industrial development, and climate resilience.
She stressed that Ghana possesses the expertise and intellectual capacity needed to drive national development and urged CSIR to deepen its engagement with government by speaking more boldly, increasing public visibility, and ensuring research outputs inform policy decisions.
“I conveyed the government’s admiration for CSIR’s transformative work. Ghana does not lack knowledge or expertise; we have researchers who can help solve the most pressing national challenges—from agriculture and food security to health, industry, and climate resilience,” she said.
The Vice President also encouraged the institution to expand exhibitions, public engagement initiatives, and policy-focused research to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and national development needs.
“I encouraged CSIR to step even closer to government, to speak boldly, and to make their work more visible. Exhibitions, public engagement, and policy support are essential. We need research that answers real problems, and CSIR is well placed to lead that effort. I look forward to deeper collaboration as we pursue solutions that put Ghana first,” she added.
The government expressed optimism about strengthening its collaboration with CSIR, noting that research-driven solutions remain critical to advancing Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.
