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Science community
welcomes the establishment of science ministry
Accra, Feb. 3, Ghanadot/GNA - The Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) has welcomed and commended President
John Evans Atta Mills for bringing back the Ministry of
Environment Science and Technology (MEST), and said it was “a
sign of commitment to science and technology”.
The Ministry, which used to be MEST under the former National
Democratic Congress (NDC) regime, was dissolved by the New
Patriotic Party with science going to the Ministry of Education
and Sports whilst Environment was added to Ministry of Local
Government and Rural Development.
Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu, Director-General of CSIR told the Ghana
News Agency that the reversal of the ministry would give science
and technology a new focus and concentration.
He explained that the reversal would also give the science
community the opportunity to showcase the achievements of the
Council and other institutions and its value for money.
He noted that the Council had 13 research institutions which had
done a number of research findings that could be used to
contribute to the development of the nation.
Dr Salifu said Ghana would need new and innovative ideas to run
the economy.
He said the new government and its agencies needed to be aware
of the knowledge and new ideas the Council had to guide them in
their plans, strategies and activities.
He said it was unfortunate that there were some research
findings by the research scientists that were not being utilized
and called on government and its agencies to access and utilize
the research findings relevant to the purpose of public and
private organizations.
The Director-General noted that science and technology was the
bedrock of development for every nation and science should be
seen as less obscure and mysterious but very essential for the
emergence and development of a scientific cultural in the
Ghanaian society.
“We need to harness the potentials of other tools or concepts to
enable us overcome the many challenges we face in our
development drive”.
Dr Salifu noted that science and technology when appropriately
applied could enable a developing nation make strides to catch
up with the developed countries.
“Exploiting the benefits of science, technology and innovation
to all facets of our economy will accelerate our stride to
middle income status, reduce poverty, achieve universal
education, reduce under five infant mortality, reduce maternal
deaths and conserve the integrity of the environment”, he added.
He noted that the Science and Technology Fund had 75,000 Ghana
Cedis, which he described as inadequate and called on industries
and corporations to invest in the fund for the rejuvenation of
industry, agriculture, health, commerce and the construction
sector of the economy.
GNA
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