Science reporting key to Ghana’s development — GNRF

Ghana's National Research Fund (GNRF) has emphasized the importance of science reporting to aid the country's socio-economic advancement. At the launch of the UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technologies (UK MEET) Fellowship in Accra, Professor Abigail Opoku, the GNRF Administrator, stressed the need for journalists to simplify scientific research, technology, and innovation.

Effective communication, she argued, is vital in converting research findings and technological advancements into practical solutions for national development.

Prof. Opoku highlighted that Ghana's research and innovation sector faces funding challenges, primarily relying on foreign development partners, making it susceptible to shifts in donor priorities. Although African Union member states have pledged to allocate at least one percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to research and development, Ghana has yet to meet this target.

The GNRF, founded under the Ghana National Research Fund Act, 2020 (Act 1056), aims to bridge this funding gap. The government contributed GH¢15 million, while President John Dramani Mahama allocated GH¢100 million in June 2025 to launch the fund.

The fund's five-year research and innovation strategy, from 2026 to 2030, focuses on food systems, health, climate sustainability, digital transformation, and governance. Speaking on behalf of Kwamena Quaison, the Director of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, he underscored that scientific progress alone cannot drive national development without public comprehension of the benefits, risks, and implications of emerging technology.

Quaison noted the UK-Ghana Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy's acknowledgment of science communication as crucial in bridging the gap between research and society.

Journalists, according to Quaison, bear the responsibility to make research accessible, address public concerns over emerging technologies, and foster trust through transparent, dialogue-driven, and credible reporting. Ryan Wilson, the Head of Communications at the British High Commission, noted that the fellowship, now in its fourth year, has trained approximately 70 journalists over the past three years.

Alumni of the program have produced reports on science, technology, innovation, health, and climate issues, while others have cultivated lasting relationships with researchers, experts, and fellow journalists. Wilson emphasized the growing significance of the programme, as AI reshapes content production, and misinformation and disinformation become more sophisticated.