Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and innovation by engaging directly with the leadership of the National Research Fund.
In a detailed update meeting, she received a comprehensive briefing on the Fund’s progress and outlined her vision for its role in addressing Ghana’s most pressing national challenges.
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The Vice President met with the Governing Board and Management of the National Research Fund, led by Board Chairman Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah.
The discussions highlighted significant milestones achieved since the Fund’s formal launch and underscored its potential to transform Ghana’s research and innovation landscape.
The National Research Fund has transitioned from a largely statutory body into a fully operational national institution.
Key achievements include the launch of the initiative by President John Dramani Mahama on 16 June 2026, the development of a national research and innovation strategy, and the establishment of a functional Secretariat.
The programme has also recorded progress toward the required Legislative Instrument and strengthened collaboration with ministries, development partners, and initiatives such as the Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence.
The Vice President, who has been involved in efforts to establish the Fund since 2013, expressed gratification at seeing the vision materialise into concrete action.
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang emphasised that the ultimate success of the National Research Fund must be measured by its tangible impact on the lives of ordinary Ghanaians. She stressed that research should move beyond academic exercises to deliver practical solutions to real-world problems.
“Research must provide practical solutions to national challenges, stimulate intellectual thought, create jobs, strengthen agriculture and industry, improve public services, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she noted.
She urged the Board to prioritise high-impact, achievable interventions that clearly demonstrate value to the public while avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic overheads. Specific areas highlighted for early focus include sanitation, agriculture, industry, trade policies, and public service delivery.
The Vice President urged stronger collaboration among universities, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), research institutions, and the private sector to turn research into commercial innovations, businesses, and job opportunities.
She also stressed the need to align research efforts with Ghana’s wider trade and industrial policies to support national development.
Recognising the constraints of public financing, Professor Opoku-Agyemang advised the Fund to explore innovative and diversified funding sources, including expanded partnerships with industry, philanthropy, and international development institutions.
However, she cautioned that all external support must remain firmly aligned with Ghana’s national priorities.
“External partnerships and donor support must remain aligned with Ghana’s national priorities to ensure that research continues to serve the country’s long-term development objectives,” she stated.
A key theme in the Vice President’s remarks was the need for effective public communication to actively engage citizens, explain its work, and demonstrate clear benefits.
The establishment of the National Research Fund represents the culmination of years of advocacy. Professor Opoku-Agyemang reflected on the long journey since 2013. The current government’s decision to operationalise the Fund and provide strategic direction reflects a deliberate policy shift toward evidence-based governance.
The Vice President concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to “resetting the way Ghana plans, teaches, innovates, and develops.” The National Research Fund has a pivotal role in solving national problems, improving livelihoods, and ensuring research produces tangible benefits for all Ghanaians.
The high-level engagement highlights strong political support for using research and innovation as key drivers of national development.
Potential benefits include agricultural advancements, improved health solutions, environmental innovations, technological progress, industrial growth, digital transformation, and evidence-based policies that strengthen governance and public service delivery.
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s meeting with the National Research Fund leadership reflects a pragmatic and visionary approach to governance. By emphasising impact, collaboration, sustainability, and public engagement, she has set a clear tone for the institution’s future.
