President John Mahama has announced the establishment of the Ghana National Research Fund with an initial allocation of GH¢50 million.

He said the fund will deepen research and innovation across science, technology, humanities and the arts.

“With this fund, we’ll slowly but certainly reverse that narrative by empowering our own researchers and ensuring that Ghana owns the knowledge and innovations produced by its intellectuals.”

He stressed that for far too long, much of the research by Ghanaian academics had been financed by foreign institutions.

“The unfortunate outcome is that the intellectual property and findings are often owned abroad.”

As part of the initiative, government will provide full scholarships annually to five PhD candidates at every university in Ghana.

“By investing in our thinkers, we are investing in our future and asserting our intellectual sovereignty.”

The President made the announcement during his maiden Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, where he outlined measures to expand education, science and technology.

“The education sector remains central to our research agenda, as we firmly believe that the future of our country hinges on an empowered, knowledgeable and skilled population.”

He linked the research fund to other interventions aimed at building a knowledge-based economy.

“We’ve also laid the groundwork for a digital Ghana through strategic investment in science and technology and innovation through the 1 million coders program.

"These strides are not isolated. They are part of a clear, deliberate national reset that is restoring hope, creating opportunity and ushering in an era of shared prosperity for all.”

On access to tertiary education, he highlighted the no-fee stress policy launched three months ago.

“I launched the no-fee stress policy, refunding fees to 120,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions in Ghana.

"It signalled a decisive break from the painful era when dreams of brilliant but vulnerable young Ghanaians were cut short simply because they could not afford to pay fees, especially at that critical period of admission where they either pay or lose the chance at further education.”

He added that the policy is linked to broader student support. “

The no-fee stress policy is intrinsically linked to our broader student loan plus policy, which will ensure that no student is left behind in subsequent years of study.

"Under this policy, students from low-income households will have access to flexible and dignified financing options to complete their tertiary education without the burden of unbearable debt or financial uncertainty.”

The President also noted that the free tertiary education policy for persons with disability had commenced.

“The implementation of the free tertiary education policy for persons with disability has commenced, removing a key barrier to higher learning and affirming our belief that education must be a right and not a privilege for every Ghanaian, regardless of their physical ability.”