The Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Hon. Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, has performed the launch of the maiden University of Ghana Research Report at a colourful ceremony at the Auditorium of the Centre for African Wetlands, on the University of Ghana campus. The report initiated by the Office of Research, Innovation and Development, (ORID) catalogues research conducted by faculty in the various Colleges and Institutes during the 2012/2013 academic year.
Hon. Justice Date-Bah noted that the research report marks an important milestone in the University’s quest to become world class and will also guide research formulation in the university. He added that the Council of the University has increased the quantum of resources for research to one million Ghana cedis. He pledged the commitment of the Council to sustain the initiative and look for more innovative ways of raising more funds to expand the portfolio.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Innovation and Development, Professor John Gyapong gave an overview of the Report. He said the Report was developed as part of the fulfillment of the mandate of ORID to coordinate the various researches being organized by Faculty of the University. He hoped that the Report will encourage units conducting research to share information. Prof. Gyapong said in the next year, ORID will focus on research in four main areas namely Malaria Research and Control, Food Security and Crop Improvement, Climate Change and Adaptation, and Development Policy and Poverty Monitoring and Evaluation.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, said the Research Report seeks to showcase the University’s research strength and achievements to stakeholders and the wider community. He said in the University’s quest to become a Research University ,Graduate admissions have been stepped up considerably from 1,267 in the 2009/2010 academic year to 3,331 in the 2012/2013 academic year. He added that PhD programmes have been restructured, while MPhil programmes have been modified to conform to global demands and trends. Prof. Aryeetey paid glowing tribute to Prof. Gyapong for his innovativeness in initiating the Research Report.
Presenting a review of the Report, Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Director of the Institute of African Studies, described it as a good piece of work and applauded ORID for a great work done within a short period. She put forward a number of recommendations to improve the Report, emphasizing that ORID should determine its target audience in future reports and have more student presence.
The launch was attended by members of the Academic Board, Provosts, Deans and Directors, Heads of Departments and other members of the University community.
The Research Report can be accessed through the following web address: http://www.ug.edu.gh/researchreport/
