Following government’s commitment to establish a National Research Fund to facilitate the generation of knowledge and enhance national development, the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) has inaugurated a committee to deliberate on the process of setting up structures to strengthen the operations of the fund.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Professor Mahama Duwiejua, the Executive Secretary of the NCTE, called on the Committee to deliberate and submit recommendations that are all inclusive, transparent and fair to all researchers.

He said research and innovation and a closer link between research institutions and industry are the only means through which Ghana could transform its economy, heavily dependent on raw materials and import of finished goods to a truly self-reliant economy with sustainable growth as expected from a middle income country.

The specific terms of reference for the Committee are to devise criteria for accessing the fund by researchers, suggest sustainable sources of populating the fund, advocate a credible governance structure for the fund and consider any other matter related to the successful implementation of the fund.

Professor Daniel Mireku?Gyimah, the immediate Past Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, thanked the Ministry and NCTE for the confidence reposed in the members.

He said the Committee had accepted the responsibility because they believe that a National Research Fund primarily for the hard working lecturers of Ghana aimed at enhancing research and innovation is needed to facilitate Ghana’s development.

Professor Mireku-Gyimah further called on government to keep supporting the fund.

The National Research Fund Committee has the following membership: Professor A. A. Adjei, representing Public Universities; Professor Reynolds Okine, Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics; Professor Atsu Aryee, Private Universities; Mr. Donnan K. Tay, Acting Director-in?Charge of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education and Mr. Paul Dzandu, Deputy Executive Secretary, NCTE.

The Committee also has two seats for the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Polytechnic Teachers’ Association of Ghana (POTAG).