Science community welcomes the establishment of science ministry

Accra, Feb. 3, 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.