Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has been briefed on the progress of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) and its contribution to advancing Ghana’s research, innovation and national development agenda.

The briefing took place on Monday at the Presidency in Accra during a meeting with the Governing Board and Management of the Fund, led by its Chairman, Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah.

The delegation updated the Vice President on key milestones achieved since the operationalisation of the Fund, including its transformation from a statutory institution into a fully functioning national body.

They also highlighted the official launch of the Fund by President John Dramani Mahama on June 16, 2026, together with strategic directives aimed at developing a national research and innovation strategy focused on addressing Ghana’s most pressing development challenges.

The Board further briefed the Vice President on the establishment of a functional secretariat, progress towards the passage of the Fund’s Legislative Instrument and ongoing collaborations with ministries, development partners and initiatives such as the Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence programme to strengthen research capacity in priority sectors.

Welcoming the delegation, Professor Opoku-Agyemang commended the Board and Management for the progress made and acknowledged the years of work that had gone into establishing the Fund.

She recalled that efforts to create the institution began in 2013 and said it was gratifying to see the vision finally become a reality.

According to the Vice President, the ultimate measure of the Fund’s success would be the impact its research projects have on the lives of Ghanaians.

She stressed that research should provide practical solutions to national challenges, stimulate innovation, create employment opportunities, strengthen agriculture and industry, improve public service delivery and contribute directly to the country’s socio-economic development.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang also underscored the importance of public education and stakeholder engagement to build confidence in the Fund and its activities.

“As the institution grows, it should begin with achievable, high-impact interventions that clearly demonstrate its value while avoiding unnecessary administrative overheads,” she said.

She encouraged the Board to identify practical national challenges, including sanitation, where the Fund could demonstrate its ability to develop innovative and evidence-based solutions.

The Vice President further called for stronger collaboration among universities, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), research institutions and the private sector to ensure that research findings are translated into innovation, business development and job creation.

She also highlighted the need to strengthen research that supports Ghana’s trade, industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.

Recognising the constraints of public financing, Professor Opoku-Agyemang urged the Fund to pursue innovative and sustainable sources of funding beyond government support by expanding partnerships with industry, philanthropic organisations and development partners.

She, however, stressed that all external partnerships should remain aligned with Ghana’s national priorities to ensure that research continues to address the country’s long-term development needs.

The Vice President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting evidence-based policymaking and repositioning research and innovation as key drivers of national development.

She said the Ghana National Research Fund has a critical role to play in solving national problems, improving livelihoods and ensuring that research delivers tangible benefits to the people.

Speaking on behalf of the Board and Management, Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah expressed appreciation to the Vice President for her longstanding commitment to research and innovation.

He commended the government for prioritising the establishment of a National Research Fund despite competing national demands.

“In fact, for a government in Africa to prioritize a National Research Fund, we should commend the Government because we are aware of the hard work you, together with His Excellency the President, have done to put research and innovation where it belongs in our dear country,” Professor Danquah said.

He added that operationalising the Ghana National Research Fund required exceptional leadership and expressed gratitude to the Vice President for the role she had played in making the initiative a reality.