President John Dramani Mahama has directed the release of GH¢100 million to support the operational launch of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) in 2026.
Speaking at the official launch of the Fund in Accra on Tuesday, June 16, President Mahama said the initiative would help bridge the long-standing gap between research and commercial production by ensuring that innovations developed by researchers are scaled up to drive national development.
The Ghana National Research Fund was established under the Ghana National Research Fund Act, 2020 (Act 1056) to provide sustainable financing for research, innovation and technology development across key sectors, including science, technology, agriculture, health, the social sciences and the humanities.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch, the President stressed the importance of prioritising research as a pathway to achieving economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
According to him, countries that depend heavily on imported technologies, expertise and solutions remain vulnerable and are unable to fully control their development trajectories.
“Across Africa, there is a great recognition that true economic sovereignty cannot be achieved without scientific sovereignty. Countries that rely entirely on imported technologies, data, expertise, and solutions will always remain vulnerable. The future belongs to nations capable of generating their own solutions to their challenges,” he stated.
President Mahama expressed optimism that the Fund would serve as a catalyst for innovation, support cutting-edge research and contribute significantly to Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.
The GNRF is expected to provide a dedicated source of funding for researchers and institutions, enabling them to develop practical solutions to national challenges while promoting innovation-driven growth.
