President John Mahama has announced the establishment of the Ghana National Research Fund, seeded with GH¢50 million, to strengthen locally driven research and reduce dependence on foreign funding for academic work.
Speaking at his Presidential Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, the President said the initiative marks a bold step toward building a knowledge-based economy and safeguarding Ghana’s intellectual property.
“For far too long, much of the research conducted by our brilliant academics has been funded by foreign institutions, with the unfortunate outcome that the intellectual property and findings are often owned abroad. With this fund, we will slowly but certainly reverse that narrative,” Mr. Mahama stated.
The fund will support research across science, technology, humanities, and the arts, while also providing five fully sponsored PhD scholarships annually in every university across the country.
“By investing in our thinkers, we are investing in our future and asserting our intellectual sovereignty,” he added.
President Mahama also announced free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, calling it the removal of a major barrier to higher learning and a step toward making education a right rather than a privilege.
Additionally, he unveiled the No-Fee Stress Policy, which will be linked to the new Student Loan Plus scheme, designed to offer flexible financing and ease the financial burden on students from low-income households.
“The education sector remains central to our reset agenda, as we firmly believe that the future of our country hinges on an empowered, knowledgeable, and skilled population,” the President emphasised.
