There was much merrymaking at the 8th annual thanksgiving service of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), held at the forecourt of CSIR- Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI), Accra on Wednesday, 14th December.

The event brought together distinguished personalities and researchers whose work has helped to project the CSRI as one of the leading national science and technology research institutions in Ghana and Africa at large.

Clad in their official CSIR office attires, council members, staff and associates of the institution danced and sang songs of thanksgiving to the Almighty God for seeing them through another year as they climaxed their activities for 2022.

The event which was organised on the theme, ‘Oh Give Thanks Unto the Lord for He is Good! (Psalm 107:1), also brought together the 13 research institutes of the Council.

In an end-of-year message, the Director General of the CSIR, Professor Paul Pinnock Bosu stressed that the CSIR would continue to pursue its four-point agenda outlined in its Strategic Plan to improve research delivery and transfer of all CSIR technologies and aggressively pursue financial resource mobilisation to make resources available for research.

Prof. Bosu said the New Year portends well for the organisation as it continues its role of scientific and technology research, development and implementation, and the transfer of the results of research in Science and Technology to relevant institutions and agencies.

The DG of the CSIR was quick to point out some success stories in the area of training farmers in snail keeping, mushroom, bee keeping, oil palm, coconut, production of new seeds and more.

Activities of the day also included the reading of the Nine Lessons and Carols, fundraising in aid of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, prayers for the departed and a sermon.

Delivering an exaltation titled 'From Guilt to thanks’, Rev. Dr. Edward Ebo Onumah of the Living Word Assemblies International Church admonished all to eschew gilt as it destroys one's ability to receive from the Lord, referencing biblical examples such as David and Jesus Christ.

CSIR-STEPRI played host to the 8th edition of the Thanksgiving Service, and the Institute’s Director Dr. Wilhelmina Quaye highlighted positive developments at the organisation which has undergone a transition at the management and board levels. She commended individual researchers who have acquired Ph.D. degrees and others who continue to work on new capabilities to deliver on their jobs.

In a solidarity message, a Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Felix Asante said his presence at the event was a sign of the good collaboration between the two eminent organisations, and added that there should be more such collaborations in the future.

The CSIR is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. The Council undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research, technological innovation as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of the country’s people.