President John Dramani Mahama has said that research, innovation and knowledge production are essential for transforming Ghana’s political independence into lasting economic and technological sovereignty.

Speaking at an Independence Day webinar curated by the Ghana Studies Association, the president reflected on the intellectual foundations of the country’s freedom struggle, noting that independence was not only a political achievement but also a triumph of ideas.

According to him, the struggle for liberation was driven by scholarship, debates, and intellectual courage from leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah and Ako Adjei, who understood that true independence required both political will and intellectual rigour.

"On 6 March 1957, our founders did not only simply declare independence; they affirmed the power of ideas. A liberation struggle was shaped by scholarship, debates, and intellectual courage. Kwame Nkrumah, Ako Adjei, and the countless others understood that true independence required both political will and intellectual rigour.

"Independence was, in many ways, the triumph of knowledge over subjugation. Now the question is: how do we turn political independence into lasting economic and technological sovereignty? How do we create prosperity and hope amid uncertainty?" he remarked.

President Mahama said the major challenge today is turning political independence into sustainable economic growth and technological advancement.

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“Now the question is, how do we turn political independence into lasting economic and technological sovereignty? How do we create prosperity and hope amid uncertainty?” he asked.

He explained that the answer lies in strengthening research, innovation, and knowledge-driven development.

“Our 69th Independence Day theme is ‘Building Prosperity, Inspiring Hope’, and it demands action, not just words,” he said.

To achieve this goal, the president emphasised the need to invest in research-driven innovation, build knowledge-intensive industries, and prioritise human capital development.

“Our research agenda emphasises that research and innovation are not peripheral to national development; they are foundational to it,” he noted.

As part of these efforts, the government is strengthening the Ghana National Research Fund to finance cutting-edge research in critical sectors including science, technology, agriculture, health, climate resilience, governance, and the humanities.

The fund, he said, will support both basic and applied research while encouraging collaboration between universities, industry, and international partners.

President Mahama added that under the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy implementation framework, research priorities are being aligned with national development goals, including the government’s 24-hour economy and accelerated export development programme.

“Research must drive industry. Innovation should strengthen value chains. Scholarship must create jobs and new opportunities,” he stressed.

The president also called on academics and researchers across disciplines to contribute to national development through evidence-based policy and intellectual leadership.

“Societies need rigorous analysis, evidence-based policy, and intellectual courage,” he said. “Whether you are in the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, engineering, or medicine, your scholarship shapes public discourse.”

He urged Ghana’s universities to become hubs of innovation rather than just centres of instruction.

“Let us build a Ghana where our universities are centres of innovation, not just instruction. Our young people see research as a viable and rewarding career path, and our industries rely on local innovation, not just imported solutions,” he said.



JKB/AM

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