The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI), has organized a three-day Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Ghana.
This workshop, held in partnership with the Registrar-General Department, aims to promote intellectual property rights and innovation in ARIPO member states while increasing awareness of the importance of intellectual property in driving technological innovation and enriching the creative arts scene.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from across Africa to discuss the critical role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in securing the integrity of innovation.
Mr. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, Deputy Attorney-General, emphasized the value of IP in safeguarding inventions, literary works, trademarks, and designs.
He also noted the growing significance of intangible assets, such as patents and trademarks, which are estimated to be worth more than 70 trillion US dollars.
Mr. Tuah-Yeboah highlighted the need for Africa to incorporate IP into its development journey, especially as innovation increasingly drives economic growth.
He stressed the importance of building capacities in the IP ecosystem to support businesses, research institutions, women, and youth in leveraging IP for innovation.
Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, Director General of ARIPO, emphasized the role of IP in driving technological innovation and addressing the challenges of the modern world.
He encouraged participants to embrace the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union's Agenda 2063, which prioritize innovation as a solution to various challenges.
Ms. Aida Galindo, Project Leader of AfrIPI, expressed excitement about the workshop's potential to provide practical insights into the applications of IPRs and their role in advancing technology and boosting income-generating capacities, especially for businesses and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Mrs. Grace Ama Issahaque, Chief State Attorney of the Registrar-General Department, highlighted the increasing use of the IP system worldwide and the growing generation of innovation in developing countries.
She stressed the importance of IP offices in demystifying IP and equipping innovators and creators with practical IP skills.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the transformative power of intellectual property rights and foster collaboration among governments, industry, academic institutions, and research organizations to enhance participation in the IP ecosystem.
- Reporting by Emelia Nkrumah:Editing by Adewale Adejoke