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Asantehene praises CSIR for
contributions to national development
Fumesua (Ash), Sept. 17, Ghanadot/GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu
II, Asantehene has commended the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) for living up to its mandate of
assisting and promoting the development of Ghana’s rich
resources through research and science and technology
interventions.
He said such efforts by the Council have helped greatly to
transform the lives of the citizenry for their total
wellbeing.
This was contained in a speech read oh his behalf at an open
Day of the CSIR at Fumesua near Kumasi on Tuesday.
The day was marked on the theme “CSIR -Championing Science
and Technology for National Development” and formed part of
activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the
Council.
The Asantehene cited among others the development and
production of clay Pozzolana as 30 per cent replacement for
Portland cement in the building industry, the establishment
of a national road accident data base for national traffic
safety policy and intervention, as well as the development
of high- yielding consumer acceptable food and industrial
crop varieties as some of the major achievements of the
Council.
He also noted with satisfaction research efforts by the
Council in soil fertility management for sustainable crop
production and soil erosion control on farm lands and in
human settlements.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said it was high time the nation
recognized and concretized the transforming power of science
and technology innovation since the level of a nation’s
development was determined by her advancement in technology.
He promised that Manhyia would continue to partner CSIR in
its research and development efforts, to enable it realize
its objective of reducing poverty through science and
technology.
Dr Salifu Alhassan, Director-General of the Council decried
that Ghana’s investment in science and technology was well
below the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) threshold recommended
in the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 that enjoined African
governments to allocate a quantum of one per cent GDP
towards research.
He therefore called for a policy direction by government in
changing public perception about science and technology
whilst attracting the needed investments into research to
benefit the nation.
GNA
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