By Rebecca Ampah
The Government of Ghana has reiterated its commitment to science, innovation, and strong Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) as essential pillars of Ghana’s sustainable development.
He stated in an address delivered on his behalf by deputy presidential candidate, Shamima Muslim at the 34th Biennial Conference of the Ghana Science Association, held at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale. The conference was themed “Leveraging Innovative Science to Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development in Ghana.”
The Chief of staff noted that the theme aligns with government’s Reset Agenda anchored on jobs, accountability, and shared prosperity. He stressed that Ghana’s transformation depends on harnessing science and technology, industry scale, and government policy to address challenges in food security, healthcare, environmental protection, and digital transformation.
“Ghana’s development trajectory requires that we bridge research and innovation with enterprise and governance. Science gives us the tools, industry provides the skill, and government creates the enabling environment. When these three forces align, we will build the Ghana we want together,” the statement read.
Examples cited in the address included partnerships such as the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana’s work with private firms to develop disease-resistant cocoa, the Noguchi Memorial Institute’s role in Ghana’s COVID-19 response, and renewable energy projects like Bui Power Authority’s hydro-solar hybrid system, which includes West Africa’s first 5MW floating solar PV installation.
The government’s Reset Agenda was also outlined, with key interventions in agriculture, healthcare, environment, and digital transformation:
Agriculture & Food Security: Expansion of the Feed Ghana Programme with ₵1.5 billion allocated under the 2025 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, supported by Olam’s $200 million agro-industrial facilities expected to create more than 4,000 jobs.
Healthcare Innovation: Establishment of a National Bio-Equivalence Centre to strengthen local pharmaceutical production, and ₵50 million seed funding for the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) to advance vaccine self-sufficiency by 2030.
Environmental Sustainability: Formation of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Squadron (NAIMOS) alongside the Blue Water Initiative and Tree for Life programmes to restore rivers, forests, and expand green jobs.
STEM & Digital Transformation: The One Million Coders Programme launched to train youth in coding, AI, and data analytics, with private sector backing, plus the construction of 35 new STEM senior high schools and five STEM-focused universities.
On inclusion, the chief of staff pointed to initiatives such as the Women’s Development Bank and affirmative action policies, underscoring that women, youth, and marginalized groups remain central to national development.
Public–private partnerships are not mere additions, they are urgent pathways for unleashing the innovations Ghana urgently needs,” the statement emphasized.
He concluded by urging scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers to deepen collaboration with government, stressing that science and innovation must remain the backbone of Ghana’s sustainable growth.
