Gov’t to Regulate Private Partnership Deals With State Research Institutions

The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Environment Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has advanced plans to regulate private partnership deals with state research institutions.

The development is aimed at ensuring that the state retains ownership of findings after a research activity.

The special assistant to the Minister of MESTI, Mr. Oliver Boakye, disclosed this on his recent working visit to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), on behalf of his boss, Prof. Frimpong Boateng.

Shedding light on challenges that may arise regarding scientific research, the Director of Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute (BNARI), Prof. Kenneth Ellis Danso, noted that inadequate funds for research is having a toll on the activities of GAEC.

He lamented that findings arrived at, after a research works, become the assets of funding agencies. He described the situation as unfortunate.

The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute is into Plant tissue culture, that is, the production or multiplication of plants in large quantities using various parts of the plant.
The Minister’s Special Assistant, Mr. Boakye, noted that MESTI is working on a regulatory framework to ensure that all partnership deals with GAEC regarding research is properly negotiated to ensure a win – win situation.

According to him, the state must derive enormous benefits from research conducted by its research institutions. This he said will bring value to the country in the area of science and technology

Mr. Boakye hinted that Government through MESTI, would consider providing research funds to GAEC and other state research institutions to ensure that research findings are solely owned by the state. He added that private agencies and individuals would have to consult the Ministry regarding partnerships into specific areas of research.

He lauded the efforts of GAEC for making several research breakthroughs (eg, High beta carotene cassava, high yielding yams, and fall army worm breakthroughs) that solve societal problems. He charged Directors of the Commission to insist on achieving results, irrespective of their challenges.

Mr. Boakye toured the GAEC Compost Plant, The Gamma Irradiation Facility, Tissue Culture laboratory among others for firsthand information.