The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo is worried that Africa continues to trail in research and innovation.

He says little effort has been made in increasing Africa’s research output.

“Africa lags in research and innovation, with only 2% of world research output and 1.3% of research spending coming from the continent – both input and output are low,” he said.

Prof. Owusu-Dabo was speaking at the maiden postgraduate scientific research conference of the KNUST College of Health Sciences.

Though Africa has made some progress in the medical field, he again bemoaned challenges in the generational and protection of intellectual property space.

He therefore urged upcoming researchers to change the narrative.

“Globally, Ghana is ranked 39th with a score of 40.88 points, which shows that there is room for improvement. The new generation of scientists and researchers must contribute to enhancing our intellectual property environment through scientific innovations and technology driven tangibles,” he said.
Prof. Owusu-Dabo also emphasized the importance of cordial mentor-mentee relationships in academic excellence and scientific innovation.

“Mentorship is a two-way street that requires active engagement and collaboration between mentors and mentees. You, as postgraduate students, need the guidance and support of experienced mentors who can help you navigate the challenges of research, writing, and career development.

“We, as mentors, must be willing to invest our time and resources in the next generation of scholars and leaders. Obviously, the quality of mentorship is key for scientific innovations and academic excellence,” he said.

The provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Christian Agyare touted the College’s research output and asked the participants to emulate.

The 2-day conference showcased over 100 poster and oral presentations. Director of the Office of Grants and Research, Prof. Philip Antwi-Agyei urged the students to take advantage of the feedback to improve their work.