BY: EWURABENA PAHA
The five years Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) project has ended in Ghana with a high-level stakeholder dialogue to chart pathways by which the project would continue post funds.
RISA, which is a UK‑funded initiative, was envisaged to strengthen research and innovation ecosystems in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Ethiopia.
At the close out meeting in Accra, Communication Minister, Mr Samuel Nartey George hinted of a meeting later this month in the UK where he intends to court renowned scientists and researchers to consider Ghana as a research destination since a national innovation and start up bill is in the offing to assist in that regard.
Mr. George said that governments’ plans to commercialize research will open the space for local ownership and broader engagements.
RISA was designed to strengthen research and innovation ecosystems in Africa, which run in Ghana for about 3 to 5 years. The Fund aimed to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of local systems, enabling African researchers, innovators, and enterprises to solve local challenges and drive sustainable development and inclusive growth.
The close-out events was to consolidate and disseminate key learnings, outcomes, and systems-level insights to strengthen works across its portfolio, while supporting transition planning, fostering sustainability of partner initiatives, and reinforcing strategic relationships with government counterparts and ecosystem stakeholders.
Ghana’s Communications Minister, Mr Samuel Nartey George said post RISA should mean solutions backed by research aimed at solving local problems.
In a remark, Development Director, British High Commission in Ghana, Terri Sarch said the five year project and the funds spent on research have brought out areas of national focus where research and science are critical.
She said African institutions addressing the most difficult social, economic, and health issues on the continent are receiving support from the RISA Fund, adding that the fund partners with research institutions, think tanks, universities, private sector organisations, and international and national NGOs, urging such bodies to expanmd their work in order to receive support.
Chisom Udemazue, an expert in technology and innovation, explained the work of RISA and what Ghana stands to gain in the long term. She said the RISA’s period in Ghana has been worthwhile due to the number of research institutions the project worked with.
Country technical lead for the research and innovation systems for Africa, Gameli Adzaho, who explained the scope of work and the overview of the RISA Fund, strategic approach, and country priorities.
He said the fund highlighted programme achievements in Ghana with a focus on ecosystem, coordination, access to finance, research commercialisation, research-industry collaboration, and inclusive innovation. It also showcased the results, knowledge products, technical resources, networks, and digital assets with the six year period.
Partners such as the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, other ministries, academia, private sector and interprenuers all agreed during the panel discussion session that home grown science and research models are best fit into country specific problems and that is why government must look for other alternative sources of funds to continue the project
