Accra, Jan. 10, GNA - Professor Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), on Wednesday bemoaned the decreasing prioritization of science and technology at the national level as reflected in resource allocation and public expenditure.

He expressed regret also about the fact that very often the issue of allocating resources to research and development was not even contemplated let alone decided on.

"At this time of 91Golden Age of Business' we need to be clear on this that unless we make science and technology the bedrock of our businesses, we cannot create the expected wealth and reduce the poverty levels in our society."

Prof Owusu-Bennoah said this when he opened a two-day citizens conference on "Biotechnology: The Options for National Policy" organized by the Science Technology and Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) of CSIR in Accra.

The conference brought together scientists, regulators, policy makers and consumer associations representing the public. Participants deliberated on issues pertaining to modern biotechnology; provide a means of framing the issues of concern to the general public and to facilitate the identification of the interest and concern of the stakeholders.

They would also debate the issues, examine the facts objectively and determine what was in the national interest to pursue in the development of a national biotechnology policy. Prof Owusu-Bennoah noted that the world had moved to a new level of technological development and in Ghana, biotechnology posed peculiar challenges given the fact the country was endowed with natural resources and there was the need to exploit and enhance theses resources using biotechnology.

"We need to direct the development of biotechnology to specific ends and ensure that we take advantage of the technology rather than allowing the technology to take advantage of us", he said. He explained that the establishment of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, which is under the auspices of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, was an illustration of national efforts to ensure that Ghana was not left behind in the application and development of biotechnology.

He noted that Ghana had made public investments in developing the national capacity in the exploitation of biotechnology, adding that the Government in 2006 approved seven billion cedis of the HIPIC Fund to support CSIR to acquire the needed equipment for the initial implementation of the two centres of excellence in biotechnology. Prof Owusu-Bennoah called on scientists to rededicate themselves to their work; be more innovative and get closer to the business world to ensure that their role in making partnership with the private sector became a reality.

Dr George Essegbey, Acting Director of STEPRI, said the conference was to introduce more innovative means of harnessing inputs from identifiable stakeholders and to facilitate the process of making technology choices.

He noted that the controversy surrounding modern biotechnology and genetic engineering specifically could not be eliminated entirely but could be subdued to the point that decisions relating to application and development of modern biotechnology would be balanced. Dr Essegbey noted that the conference would enable the nation to create mechanisms for balanced debate of all issues relating to modern biotechnology and in the process determine the direction for its development and application. 10 Jan. 07