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Research Projects increased from 298 to 311 – CSIR
Prof Paul Bosu, the Director-General of CSIR
Research Projects have increased from 298 last year to 311 by September 2023, the Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Prof Paul Bosu has revealed.
Similarly, he added that the number of journal article publications has also increased from 129 in 2022 to 169 by September this year.
However, he indicated that much could not be said of obtaining intellectual property rights and patents which are key outputs of Research and Development noting that a Research and Development policy document has been developed to streamline research activities.
Prof Bosu made these revelations at the 34th Research Staff Association (RSA) Annual General Meeting & and 5th Scientific Conference of CSIR at Kade in the Kwaebibrem district of the Eastern Region.
Held on the theme: “Diversification of agricultural systems: The Role of Tree Crops in Harnessing Ghana’s Economic Potential” the event brought together researchers, development partners, and graduate students from various disciplines to engage in discussions about the diversification of Ghana’s agricultural systems to unlock its economic potential.
Prof. Bosu said the issue of funding continues to be a matter of great concern to CSIR therefore encouraging scientists to continue to explore funding opportunities for research grants.
“I, therefore, urge all of us to step up efforts to do more as at the corporate level, we are working hard through the Grants and Projects Office to facilitate opportunities for researchers” he stated.
He announced the launching of the CSIR endowment Fund next year which is aimed at alleviating some of the difficulties that young scientists face when writing project proposals.
Mr. William Agyapong Quaittoo, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), commended CSIR-RSA members for their role and support in research.
He said the tree crop development authority was well positioned to improve the alignment of the CSIR research agenda with market demands through mediating between research institutions, investors, and producer constituencies to ensure that output, products, and technologies were relevant to market needs.
In line with this, he said, the central focus of their activities was to enhance the availability of high-quality planting materials for selected high-potential varieties and corollary services that meet the needs of farmers, investors, and markets.
This entailed fostering supply chains for these materials, especially orchestrating the generation and dissemination of an enhanced supply of seedlings to private nursery operators and the downstream supply of seedlings to producers in concert with corollary services such as grafting and inputs.
The Ghana government had secured 100 million dollars in funding to finance these interventions in the tree crop sector, Mr. Quaittoo added, through the “Ghana Tree Crops Diversification Project.”
He said the interventions focused on strengthening institutions and governance within value chains, enhancing productivity and climate resilience, and providing support for post-harvest management, value addition, and market access.
He further explained that TCDA had allocated $11 million to research activities involving coconut, rubber, and cashew.
The funds he said will be shared among various research institutes, including CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute, CSIR-Crops Research Institute/ College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, among others, to support market-driven research proposals.
Again, a significant amount of the fund, totaling over US 30 million dollars, has been designated for the development of high-quality planting material supply chains.
The project is set to commence in November of this year, according to Mr. Quaittoo, and requires thorough market-driven research for successful execution.
Dr. Kofi Ampomah-Benefo, the National President of the RSA, provided an overview of the association’s membership, which consists of the Research and Principal Technologist Grade Staff of CSIR.
He said it was created to be the leading source of information for science, technology, and innovation to support national development.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
