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'Scientists must provide answers tp development challenges'

Samuel Sackey (L), Director of Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Prof John Gyapong and Prof Ernest Aryeeteym Pro-Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of University of GhanaThe Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ernest Aryeetey has challenged scientists to be innovative about how they percieve things in the country.

He said the nation was facing several challenges in generating electricity and enough water for household needs, because people have not used their innovativeness to make sciences accessible to the large population.

Therefore, it is about time people took their known sciences and technology and adopt it like the Asians do, to solve our problems.

“Africa is the only region in the world where for the past 30 years there had been no addition in electricity generation, in per capita terms. Electricity generation in Asia in the last 30 years is 25 per cent, Euorpe and America over 65 per cent but in Africa zero. Often we spend money on power generation and we do not produce enough,” he said.

Professor Aryeetey added “innovativeness simply imply how we generate power cheaply so our whole population can afford,” he said.

However, he said we need to provide incentives for our scientists in order to encourage more of them to engage in research.

“We have not paid enough attention to the need to think creatively about how to generate power. The challenge will always be there until we begin to give scientists incentives so they will be creative and solve problems for us,” he said.

Prof Aryeetey expressed these concerns at a madien seminar at the university on Intellectual Property (IP). The Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) of the University of Ghana, Legon (UG)  is developing the IP policy to provide the needed incentives and security for innovative research at the UG.

IP refers to creations of the mind such as inventions; literary and artistic works for which exclusive rights granted.  The development of IP policy is a critical step to harnessing innovation at the UG. 

Some of the underpinnings of the IP Policy are Ownership of Intellectual Property; Invention Disclosure; Technology Development; Technology Transfer; and Revenue Distribution.

Prof Aryeetey also stressed that that we put our scientists and others at a disadvantage if we fail to protect IP.

The Director of the Legal Affairs Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Kwame Fosu, announced that the national IP policy is currently at the cabinet level and if implemented will be the first of its kind.

Story: Ama Amankwah Baafi / Graphic Business

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