The Social Investment Fund (SIF) has handed over a project site for the construction of a Biotechnology Research Centre at the University of Ghana to contractors.

The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Biotechnology Centre of the University.

The facility forms part of the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP), a five-year Government of Ghana initiative funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The PSDPEP seeks to strengthen skills development, research capacity and productivity, particularly within the health and science sectors.

The Biotechnology Research Centre, to be constructed by Bawahuud Limited, is expected to be completed within 12 months. The project will be financed from the US$28.5 million grant allocated to the PSDPEP by the AfDB.

The facility will comprise modern laboratories equipped with advanced research facilities, offices, classrooms and ancillary infrastructure to support training, innovation and cutting-edge biotechnology research.

Mr Abass Nurudeen, Chief Executive Officer of SIF, said the handover marked a critical transition from planning to implementation under the PSDPEP.

“This handover signals a shift from doubt to belief, from dream to reality, and from planning to action,” he said at the ceremony.

Mr Nurudeen noted that the project was a key component of the PSDPEP, aimed at strengthening Ghana’s health sector, enhancing research capacity and building resilient systems capable of responding effectively to future public health challenges.

“These facilities, when completed, will significantly enhance training, research and innovation in critical health-related disciplines, while also creating opportunities for skills development and employment,” he added.

He urged the contractors to adhere strictly to approved designs, timelines, quality standards, as well as environmental and safety requirements, stressing that timely completion was crucial as the project was nearing its closing period.

Mr Nurudeen assured that SIF, in collaboration with the University of Ghana, would provide continuous oversight to ensure the successful delivery of the project. He also hinted at the possibility of a second phase of the PSDPEP, with biotechnology expected to feature prominently.

Prof. Kwame Offei, Founding Director of the Biotechnology Centre and Project Coordinator for Biotechnology Research under the PSDPEP, said the new facility would significantly expand the Centre’s capacity for training and advanced research.

“The construction of this building will provide us with adequate laboratories and facilities to train more students, as well as equipment to undertake cutting-edge research in biotechnology,” he said.

Prof. Offei described biotechnology as a rapidly evolving field that required sustained investment in sophisticated equipment to address emerging development challenges. He said the Centre aimed to bridge critical gaps in Ghana’s biotechnology research landscape, particularly in genomic research.

“One of the major gaps in biotechnology research in Ghana is our inability to undertake genomic research to engineer organisms for superior traits and provide solutions for industry,” he explained.

Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences at the University of Ghana, expressed gratitude to SIF and its partners, describing the project as timely and aligned with the University’s new strategic plan, which prioritises impactful research.

He said the Centre was expected to serve not only Ghana but also the wider West African sub-region, given the limited number of advanced biotechnology research facilities in the region.

Mr Daniel Asare Amoako, Project Manager for the Research Centre, assured stakeholders that the project would be completed on schedule and to the highest quality standards.

The PSDPEP, which is scheduled for completion in 2027, also supports the construction of research and skills development centres in nursing, midwifery and microbiology at the University of Ghana.