The African Centre for Sustainable Savanna Communities (ACeSSCo) has collaborated with the University for Development Studies (UDS) and the University of Leicester (UoL) in the UK to launch a Research Network and outdoor a project which uses remote sensing and geographic information systems to track and map out the spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in Ghana.
The launch took place at the International Conference Centre of the UDS in Tamale.
Participants were drawn from the Academia (UDS, University of Ghana-Legon) Regional Directorates of the Ghana Health Service (RDGHS) in the Northern sectors, the Ghanaian Media and Civil Society Organizations, including ACeSSCo, a multi-sectorial, interdisciplinary research for development organization, working in the frontline to facilitate uptake of evidenced-based development outcomes.
Innovation and Policy Influence
This applies the Science-Policy-Practice approaches to co-designing and delivering development projects with demonstrated impact for needy communities.
All over the world, national governments are relying on scientific evidence to make decisions on how to control and stop the virus from spreading and killing people. This project will generate scientific evidence that could influence government decision-making, particularly how it distributes social protection interventions to places of critical need.
In a keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye recalled the history and mandate of UDS in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He stressed the importance of the project nationally and internationally and enumerated specific benefits to the poor in urban and rural communities in Ghana.
Prof. Teye acknowledged the immense contribution of the Project Coordinator, Dr. John Atibila, who initiated the project between the University of Leicester and UDS and successfully led proposal development for funding from the Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF).
Joining virtually via Microsoft Team Online Conferencing and speaking about the importance of Research Networks, Dr. John Atibila, who is a Senior Innovations and Sustainability Consultant in the United Kingdom, explained that the aim of the network is to bring key COVID-19 stakeholders in Ghana, especially the Northern Sectors, to work together and find solutions to preventing the infection and spread of the virus in order to save human lives, particularly among vulnerable populations.
He emphasized that the project aims are in line with World Health Organization’s “Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response” (WHO-GLOPID Goals) which will enable Ghana to apply evidence from science and technological innovations to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic.
On the rationale for establishing and launching the Ghana-Leicester Epidemics Control Network (GLECON), he stated that research networks were an essential part of the intellectual lives of academics and researchers in developed countries, so there is the need for developing country scientist to adopt this research structure.
He stated that networks comprise scientists [interdisciplinary] working together on specific themes with the intention of finding solutions to intractable development challenges.
The GLECON will, therefore, be a national platform for medium to long term research to enable Ghana’s preparedness to deal effectively with COVID-19 as well as future unforeseen epidemics.
Contributing to the launch virtually from Leicester, the Director of the University of Leicester Centre of Landscape and Climate Research, Professor Heiko Balzter, who is a professor of Physical Geography, stated that Remote Sensing uses data from satellites, aircraft, drones and other platforms for land-use mapping, weather observation and forecasting, environmental and natural hazards studies, as well as resource exploration.
Prof Balzter indicated that satellite data have become much more widely available, but the processing demands computing expertise to analyze these data to provide relevant information for local stakeholders.
He observed that the University of Leicester has the expertise to build the capacity of young career scientists in Ghana in the application of Earth Observation System tools and techniques to conduct high quality and interdisciplinary research to track and develop dynamic COVID-19 maps showing the spread of the infection for the Ghana government, working with donor community and other stakeholders to use the evidence to provide effective social protection interventions equitably across the country.
At the close of the Opening Ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Ayum Teye formally launched the Ghana–Leicester Epidemics Control Network (GLECON) at the event, which was expertly moderated by Dr. Mamudu Akudugu, Deputy Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Research and Consultancy Services (IIRaCS) of the University for Development Studies.
Participants moved to the final activity of the day, the Co-Production Workshop.
Innovative Project Co-Production
It has become increasingly clear that many research projects fail to have the desired impact because scientists do not sufficiently engage local stakeholders to know their real problems.
The main innovation of the event – the opportunity given to key stakeholders of health promotion, disease prevention, and control to contribute to designing a project that will benefit them and have a high impact on society and the environment.
Unlike conventional workshops, where attendees sit and listen to “experts”, this Co-Production Workshop, incorporated a co-learning Round-Table Discussion Session whereby participants worked in six groups to identify COVID 19 control and mitigation challenges and provide inputs to design a R&D project to find solutions to control COVID 19 and save lives.
The contributions from stakeholders have been taken up by the project development team and will be used to apply for research funding for a large scale project covering most of the Northern Sector and some selected areas in Urban Slums in the cities.
With the GLECON duly launched, membership is now open to academic and non-academic institutions including civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations as well as Individual to apply and join the network.
For further information about the project or how to apply for membership of GLECON, please contact ACeSSCo, which was represented by Ms. Magdalene Ayamga (Gender and Development Officer), Mr. James A.S. Akudugu (Social Entrepreneurship Officer) and Mr. Emmanuel Akayeti (affiliate from GBC).
Story by: Emmanuel Akayeti
