Prof. Aryeetey speaking at the ceremony. Looking on is Prof. John O. Gyapong
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey has inaugurated four Working Groups on Centres of Excellence to be established at the University. The four Centres of Excellence, which are expected to promote efforts the University of Ghana is making to become a key research institution in Africa, are in Malaria Research, Enhancing Food Production and Processing, Trans-Disciplinary Research into Climate Change Adaptation and Development Policy and Poverty Monitoring and Evaluation.
In his introductory remarks, Prof. Aryeetey noted that the establishment of the Centres of Excellence will define more clearly, the research focus of the University. While acknowledging the magnitude of work being done by individual researchers in the University, he said it was time to bring accomplished researchers into groups to work together to enhance the university's new focus. The Vice-Chancellor was hopeful that the groups will develop programmes around their thematic areas. He noted that the University is exploring ways of raising funds of about 5 million dollars for each of the Centres to support their work. He urged the groups to consider organising international conferences, and also include graduate students in the research work so as to provide them with research experience.
The convener of the Malaria research group, Professor Kwadwo Koram, who is also the Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), said his group had already begun meeting and had mapped out some strategies targeted at Malaria elimination. He said a concept paper would soon be developed in this respect.
Professor S.G.K Adiku, Head of the Academic Quality Assurance Unit and convener of the Group on Trans-Disciplinary Research into Climate Change Adaptation, said the group was brainstorming on the various interpretations of climate change issues to determine a more coherent focus. He said due to the multi-dimensional effects of climate change, a multi-disciplinary approach will be used by the group.
On behalf of the group on Enhancing Food Production and Processing, Prof. Eric Y. Danquah, Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, said the group was glad to be contributing to such an important issue as Food Production and Processing. He said they were looking forward to identifying areas of focus on some “Call for Proposals” that had been made earlier by the University. Prof. Kwame Offei, Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (CACS), who was not present at the inuguration, is Convenor of the group.
The convener of the Development Policy and Poverty Monitoring and Evaluation working group, Prof. Felix Asante, who is also the Director of the Institute for Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) said that mini concepts would be developed based on the specialities of members of the group.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. John O. Gyapong thanked the members for accepting to lead the process of establishing centres of excellence at the University. He said his office would coordinate the process and each group will be assisted by a research development officer, and asked the members to channel ensuing issues to his office.
Please click here for the names of members of the working groups
Members of the working group on Malaria Research in a pose with the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, ORID
Members of the working group on Development Policy and Poverty Monitoring and Evaluation in a pose with the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, ORID
Members of the working group on Enhancing Food Production and Processing in a pose with the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, ORID
Members of the working group on Trans-Disciplinary Research into Climate Change Adaptation in a pose with the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, ORID