Nana Aba Appiah Amfo urges activation of Ghana National Research Fund

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, has called for the immediate operationalization of the Ghana National Research Fund to drive innovation and academic excellence. Speaking at a roundtable event at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, she emphasized that while the fund was legally established under Act 1056 in 2020, its transition into a functional grant-making body is essential for the nation's development. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the current gap between legislation and implementation must be closed to support the country's scholars effectively.

The Vice-Chancellor described the passage of Act 1056 as a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to secure sustainable financing for research and development. However, she pointed out that the ’long road’ from the enactment of the law to the actual disbursement of grants needs to be shortened. The roundtable, organized by the Ghana Students Association at Johns Hopkins University, served as a platform to discuss how Ghanaian institutions can better bridge the gap between policy and execution in the research sector, bringing together stakeholders to promote leadership and institutional synergy.

Highlighting the University of Ghana's proactive measures, Professor Amfo detailed existing initiatives such as the Graduate Research Fund, which provides internal support for postgraduate students. She advocated for an expansion of this research culture to include undergraduate students, stressing that early exposure to academic inquiry is fundamental to building a robust intellectual pipeline. These university-led efforts are designed to complement broader national strategies and sustain academic progress while the national fund remains in its preparatory stages.

Professor Amfo also underscored the vital role of the Ghanaian diaspora in enhancing the country's research capacity and international standing. She urged scholars and professionals abroad to prioritize networking and maintain active collaborations with local institutions, arguing that such partnerships are key to fostering global innovation. By strengthening ties between the diaspora and domestic universities, she concluded, Ghana can better leverage international expertise and resources to solve local challenges and elevate the standard of higher education across the country.