Scientists to spearhead socio-economic development in ministries

Ghana is working on establishing what government calls Offices of Chief Scientists in all sector ministries.

Personnel who will be assigned to such offices will assume advisory roles in making science and technology decisions of the respective ministry.

“In a number of jurisdictions where science has been the major driver of national progress, institutions such as offices of chief scientists have played major role,” stated Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI).

In an interview with Luv News in Kumasi, the Minister emphasized the need for scientific research to form the basis of national economic development.

On a daily basis, government is challenged in employing appropriate ways to address problems which could be resolved through the application of science and technology.

Mr. Ayariga has bemoaned the importation of technologies to solve local problems and wants the promotion of indigenous technologies and the mobilization of local resources to drive national development.

“Very often, we miss the opportunity to apply local knowledge in terms of the capabilities of research institutions, universities and individual researchers who are in the system who could have resolved it for us,” he observed.

Disseminating technological knowledge and getting both the public and private sector to utilize local scientific knowledge have been a big challenge.

Under the proposed initiative, the chief scientists will establish linkages between academia, researchers, the private sector and government for national development.

This is part of efforts by Ghana to prioritize science and technology as engine for the nation’s new development shift.

Scientists will be selected from the universities to undergo training before being assigned to the various sectors.

Mr. Ayariga indicates the process will be decentralized to ensure efficiency.

“Is not all ministries that have science and technology functions, so we will select only those who have science and technology functions,” he said. “We may extend them to regional, municipal, metropolitan and district scientists and they will help to advise the various heads on local level developments”.