USE SCIENCE TO PROMOTE SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH

Alhaji Dr. Farouk Briamah, deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology has said African policy makers need to fashion effective science and techonology incentives to promote socio-economic growth.

He explained that no meanful social political and economic growth could be achieved on the continent without significant application of science and technology. He was opening a week-long international training seminar for 25 Anglo-phone scientist, professors, policy makers, lectures, managers and other professionals at the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) in Accra yesterday.

It is to enable the selected senior policy makers and managers from both the private and public sectors to exchange experiences in the use of incentives to promote the development and application of science and technology in Africa.

Dr. Briamah pointed out that the period when scientist only published books and publications for promotion and living should give way to more practical approach. "The greatest incentive for development of science and technology today must be the acceptability and adoption by society of the results of scientific research."

Dr. Peter N. Mwanza, Director of the UN Resources Division, commended the financirs of the seminar and called for more support from them. He called for a systematic approach to science and technology in formulating and implementing national policies.

Prof. W. S Alhassan Director-General, Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research said if Africa does not adopt scientific and techonogy measures in policy making whatever competetive advantage it has will continually be eroded.