Professor Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has expressed concern about differences in salaries between scientists working in analogous institutions.
For example, he said the differences in salaries between scientists working at the Universities and those at the CSIR had resulted in the loss of about 50 research scientists from the Council to other institutions.
"About 50 out of 450 research scientists have left the Council apart from those who are requesting for sabbatical leave," he said.
Prof. Owusu-Bennoah expressed the concern, when Prof. Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports paid a familiarization visit to the Council.
He also pointed out that there was the need for human resource development within the CSIR but expressed worry that the council had only two slots in the scholarship secretariat and requested that the Council should be considered for more government scholarships in terms of training.
While commending government for the establishment of a Science and Technology Fund, Prof. Owusu- Bennoah urged government to increase the funding to finance all the 13 research institutions under the CSIR.
Prof. Owusu-Bennoah said the CSIR had been able to attract an American investor who had shown interest in composite cement, adding that the presence of the investor was part of the Public-Private partnership programme to improve research in the country.
Prof. Owusu-Bennoah said the cement project could bring a lot of income which might help the Council to be on its own in future.
Prof. Dominic Fobih promising government's support for the council urged researchers to focus their research efforts to match national development agenda.
"You need to focus your research priorities to national priorities so that your work could be of national interest," he said, and added that government would then be more committed towards science and technology development in the country.
Prof. Fobih said the importance of science and technology in national development was important and said there was a real need to increase money for the science and technology.
Prof. Fobih pledged governments support in facilitating the process of addressing internal issues such as tools for researchers including laboratories, while addressing other concerns.
Prof. Edward Ayensu, Chairman of the Council, called for political backing for the development of science and technology in the country.
"Most countries doing well in national development issues take science and technology seriously. It is important that Ghana puts science and technology on the pedestal," he said.
Source: GNA
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Cedi holds steady in retail market amid rising demand; one dollar equals GH¢16.25
11 mins -
Flokefama, GAMLS, SMLM-G to promote standardisation of diagnostic procedures
46 mins -
Ghana’s economy to rise to 3-year high of 5.5% – Fitch Solutions
48 mins -
ATU suffers first eviction in Big Chef Tertiary Season 2
54 mins -
Antoine Semenyo scores in Bournemouth win over Southampton
1 hour -
Galamsey: Complete mining ban would harm compliant firms – Ace Ankomah
2 hours -
‘We have lost it’ – Ace Ankomah declares on galamsey fight
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo overlooked numerous warnings letters about Galamsey crisis – Ace Ankomah
2 hours -
Over 50 students and teachers in Ashaiman educated on Gender-Based Violence
3 hours -
Construction of 1,000 housing units for Akosombo Dam victims set to start soon – Oppong Nkrumah
3 hours -
Global InfoAnalytics reports Mahama at 51.1% in election 2024 with Bawumia at 37.3%
3 hours -
Democrats sue to block Georgia ballot hand count rule
3 hours -
Prince Harry celebrates ‘little legends’ at London charity awards
3 hours -
Ghana Health Service warns of increasing measles cases in Ashanti Region
3 hours -
AGI warns PURC: Utility tariff increases detrimental to industrial development
3 hours