Government Support For Research To Rise To 2.5 Percent

Cabinet has approved a science and technology policy to guide the development and adaptation of science and technology for the development of the country.

The government has also established a Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology to advice the President on science and technological advancement of the country.

Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations, made this known at the opening of the Tenth International Applied Research Conference and Technology Fair of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) at Koforidua.

He said there was no way any sector of the country could develop without the application of science and technology.

Professor Frimpong-Boateng said the government policy of using one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country to support research and development of science and technology would soon be passed into law to help provide regular funding for research and scientific development of the country in the short term.

He said in the long term, government’s provision for research, science and technology would be extended to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the success of a leader of the country does not depend on infrastructural development but the ability of the leader to mobilize the people to solve their basic needs especially food, clothing and shelter.

He said Ghana needs to strategically position itself to produce it’s own machines if the One District One Factory programme is to be successful because the country cannot always rely on other countries to supply it’s technical requirements for the factories.