Box 8.3: Role of Science and Technology in Ghanaian Development
Policy
The Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies
(2017–2024) is Ghana’s current development policy. This policy places premium importance on mainstreaming science and technology towards achieving its agenda for job generation, creating prosperity and equal opportunity for
all. In the short- to medium-term, one key intervention highlighted for
implementing flagship projects and initiatives is “Leveraging on Science,
Technology and Innovation”. This will support the achievements of flagship
projects and initiatives such as the “Planting for Food and Jobs” campaign to
stimulate food production and generate income, the “One-Village-One Dam”
initiative to ensure farming throughout the year, especially in the semi-arid
northern regions, and the “One District, One Factory” initiative to establish at
least one industrial enterprise in each of the 216 Ghanaian districts through
public-private partnerships. To achieve these, the policy proposes to set up
technology and innovation incubation centres on the campuses of public
research institutions, as a means of providing basic facilities that the technology innovators need, to scale up and pilot their innovations to commercial
levels.
8.3.3.2 Institutions Promoting Research
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) is the main coordinating ministry for the formulation of policies regarding the application of scientific
research and technology. On the other hand, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is
responsible for STI-related education policies. Departments and agencies under
MESTI include the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the Town and Country Planning Department, whose collective primary
responsibilities relate to applied R&D in Ghana (MESTI 2017a).
The Science, Technology and Innovation Directorate, one of MESTI’s six directorates, is responsible for formulating STI policies, and communicating, coordinating and monitoring programmes and activities of relevant agencies and departments
within the Ministry, at various levels of implementation. The new STI policy
proposed an apex statutory body, the Presidential Advisory Council on Science,
Technology and Innovation (PACSTI), that links the ministry to the President, as a
means of ensuring the effective coordination and harmonization of the new policy
and other national STI programmes. In addition, MESTI launched in 2018 the Ghana
Innovation and Research Commercialization Centre (GIRC-Centre). The aim of this
body is to facilitate the translation of research findings into commercial products and
services to achieve the objectives of the current national development plan.
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Policy
The Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies
(2017–2024) is Ghana’s current development policy. This policy places premium importance on mainstreaming science and technology towards achieving its agenda for job generation, creating prosperity and equal opportunity for
all. In the short- to medium-term, one key intervention highlighted for
implementing flagship projects and initiatives is “Leveraging on Science,
Technology and Innovation”. This will support the achievements of flagship
projects and initiatives such as the “Planting for Food and Jobs” campaign to
stimulate food production and generate income, the “One-Village-One Dam”
initiative to ensure farming throughout the year, especially in the semi-arid
northern regions, and the “One District, One Factory” initiative to establish at
least one industrial enterprise in each of the 216 Ghanaian districts through
public-private partnerships. To achieve these, the policy proposes to set up
technology and innovation incubation centres on the campuses of public
research institutions, as a means of providing basic facilities that the technology innovators need, to scale up and pilot their innovations to commercial
levels.
8.3.3.2 Institutions Promoting Research
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) is the main coordinating ministry for the formulation of policies regarding the application of scientific
research and technology. On the other hand, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is
responsible for STI-related education policies. Departments and agencies under
MESTI include the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the Town and Country Planning Department, whose collective primary
responsibilities relate to applied R&D in Ghana (MESTI 2017a).
The Science, Technology and Innovation Directorate, one of MESTI’s six directorates, is responsible for formulating STI policies, and communicating, coordinating and monitoring programmes and activities of relevant agencies and departments
within the Ministry, at various levels of implementation. The new STI policy
proposed an apex statutory body, the Presidential Advisory Council on Science,
Technology and Innovation (PACSTI), that links the ministry to the President, as a
means of ensuring the effective coordination and harmonization of the new policy
and other national STI programmes. In addition, MESTI launched in 2018 the Ghana
Innovation and Research Commercialization Centre (GIRC-Centre). The aim of this
body is to facilitate the translation of research findings into commercial products and
services to achieve the objectives of the current national development plan.
8 Strategic Partnerships Between Universities and Non-academic Institutions for. . .
263