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Minister calls for innovative scientific strategies
Fumesua (Ash), Oct. 21, GNA - Ms Shirley Ayittey,
Minister of environment Science and Technology (MEST), has
appealed to research institutions under the ministry to come up
with innovative strategies to propel science and technology as
catalyst for increased productivity and national development.
She said the government wanted to see science and technology as
the driving force behind the country's growth and is therefore
interested in making sure that useful research findings are
adopted.
Ms Ayittey was addressing separate durbars of research
scientists and staff of research institutions under the ministry
at Fumesua near Kumasi on Tuesday.
The institutions are the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG),
Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), Crop Research
Institute (CRI) and the Soil Research Institute (SRI).
The minister visited laboratories, plants and sampled some of
the products which have been developed and produced by the
institutions.
Ms Ayittey said a new Science and Technology Bill had been
drafted and if approved would help bridge the gap between policy
and research.
The Bill provides for the establishment of a National Science
and Technology Fund to assist make research findings easily
available to the private sector, to increase productivity,
create jobs and solve some of the environmental problems facing
the nation.
Ms Ayittey said they would ensure that local research and
technological findings were utilized to benefit the country.
The Minister called on research scientists to come together and
share ideas on their findings in order to encourage local
entrepreneurs to adopt for use in their industries.
A conference and exhibition for all the research institutes to
showcase their findings and activities would be held next year.
Alhaji Baba Salifu, Director General of Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR), praised the minister for showing
keen interest in the activities of the research institutions.
He said the 13 institutes that form the council have all made
tremendous impact in the socio-economic, industrial and
environmental development of the nation and called for
governmental support to deploy the numerous research findings to
benefit society.
GNA
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