The British Government has announced its intention to commit up to £1.9 million to boost the budding science, technology, and innovation sector in the West African sub-region.
The government aims to enhance the “commercialization of innovative solutions, improve innovation policy, and enhance government digital service delivery” in the region.
This was disclosed by the visiting Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury at a press conference in Accra.
The beneficiary countries of the grant are Ghana and Nigeria, the donor’s Commonwealth allies.
Lord Collins told reporters that the support facility was geared towards strengthening “the global technology sector, creating opportunities for rapidly growing economies with lots of potentials to compete on the world stage”.
“The Sankore grant,” Lord Collins noted, “fosters partnerships at its heart, with a strong message that we go far when we go together”.
The Minister of Science of Technology and Innovation who represented the Government of Ghana applauded the intervention as a means to provide the needed aid to the local science and technology industry.
“This initiative is one of many initiatives the Ministry with the support of the UK Government intends to bridge the funding gap for Ghana’s Technological Innovation. We are happy to partner with key actors in the innovation ecosystem to drive the economic transformation in Ghana through ST&I,” Ms. Hayford said.
The grant, dubbed ‘Sankore calls for proposals’ is the new West Africa Research and Innovation Hub’s accountable grant mechanism of up to £1.9 million to support research and innovation systems strengthening in Ghana and Nigeria.
The project is part of the Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships (UK-ATIP) Programme.
On her part, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson noted that the funding was anchored in the “enormous value” the United Kingdom regarded ties with its African allies.
“This grant will strengthen our existing partnerships on science, tech and innovation,” Ms. Thompson said of the package, “in line with our joint the UK-Ghana ST&I Strategy.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
