Professor Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, a Lecturer at the University of Ghana, has called upon the government to ensure that policy formulation and implementation are guided by evidence-based research to facilitate the nation's development.
He highlighted the issue of policy statements being made without the support of evidence-based research, which often results in ineffective policy implementation.
Prof. Gyampo shared these insights during the opening of the third edition of the Research and Development Conference hosted by the SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Wa.
The conference, themed “Bridging the Gap between Applied Research, Policy Formulation, and Implementation,” attracted approximately 90 participants from universities across the country.
The objective of this annual research event is to emphasize the importance of incorporating applied research findings into development and policy decisions to achieve the desired national development.
Prof. Gyampo expressed concerns about politicians making policy statements influenced by the enthusiasm of their supporters during rallies rather than conducting research to assess the feasibility of such policies.
He emphasized the critical role of research in shaping effective policy formulation and implementation.
Efforts to bridge the gap between applied research and policy-making were deemed essential for the country's development progress.
Professor Issaka Kanton Osumanu, the Dean of Social Science and Arts at SDD-UBIDS, outlined the university's strategic positioning to maximize the benefits of its research products for national development.
Strategies included hosting the annual Research and Development Conference and establishing research-focused faculties and directorates.
Professor Frederick Dayour, the Director of Research, Innovation, and Consultancy at SDD-UBIDS, underscored the transformative potential of research when translated into well-informed policies and effectively implemented.
The conference featured 84 approved research papers out of 104 submissions from researchers and aims to expand its reach in the future.
