Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings made the call during a visit to the CSIR on September 23, 2026, as part of efforts to familiarize herself with the work of agencies under her ministry. She emphasized the need for agencies to intensify efforts to address environmental challenges, particularly land degradation, water pollution, and destruction of Ghana's natural resources. The Minister also called for stronger collaboration between researchers and the government to improve conditions for scientists and help retain skilled professionals in the country.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings noted that commercializing research could provide agencies with additional resources to improve working conditions and create an environment that encourages scientists to remain in Ghana. She described the process as a collaborative effort between the ministry and its agencies and expressed her commitment to working with researchers to identify practical ways of strengthening Ghana's scientific capacity. The Minister believes that Ghana needs to build a strong community of scientists capable of using research and innovation to address the country's development challenges.
The CSIR Council Chairman, Ing. Mark Taylor, highlighted concerns over the growing challenges of retaining scientific expertise in Ghana. The Council called for more structured and predictable career paths for researchers, stressing the importance of creating conditions that would encourage scientists to remain in the country. The Council also identified the destruction of forest reserves and pollution of water bodies as major environmental challenges requiring urgent scientific intervention.
According to the CSIR, science and technology must play a leading role in environmental remediation and the development of alternative livelihood strategies. The Council pledged its technical expertise, including geological data and environmental monitoring capabilities, to support the ministry's efforts to restore and protect Ghana's ecosystems. The CSIR also expressed its intention to accelerate efforts to transform research outputs into commercial ventures that can create jobs and support industrialization.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings urged agencies under her ministry to be more proactive in identifying challenges and proposing practical solutions. She encouraged researchers and technical officers not to hesitate to raise concerns but said challenges brought to the ministry should, where possible, be accompanied by proposed solutions. The Minister also called for proposals on projects that could help address environmental degradation, including land remediation and water purification.
The Minister said such initiatives could help the ministry make a stronger case for additional funding by demonstrating the practical and economic value of scientific research. She added that such interventions must ultimately contribute to protecting the environment for future generations. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings expressed her commitment to receiving proposals and research findings from the various agencies under her ministry.
Key points
- Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings urges CSIR to commercialize research to address environmental challenges and contribute to national development.
- The CSIR Council highlights concerns over retaining scientific expertise in Ghana and calls for more structured career paths for researchers.
- The Minister encourages researchers to propose practical solutions to environmental challenges and calls for collaboration to strengthen Ghana's scientific capacity.
