The University of Ghana has marked the climax of its month-long celebration of the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) with a colorful ceremony centered on the theme, “Climate Sustainability: Innovate, Safeguard, Prosper.”
Held at the Cedi Conference Centre, the event brought together academics, policymakers, students and industry players to explore the role of science and innovation in tackling climate challenges.
Chairing the ceremony, acting Vice Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Gordon Awandare, called for stronger collaboration between universities, government and industry to develop sustainable, homegrown solutions to climate change.
He noted that while the occasion was celebratory, it also served as a call to action. Africa’s long-standing contributions to science, he said, must be revitalized by nurturing young minds and investing in research.
A keynote address delivered on behalf of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Hon. Issifu Seidu, emphasized the urgency of scaling up climate-smart innovations, such as renewable energy and waste-to-energy technologies. The minister also called for a rethinking of intellectual property regimes to make climate-resilient technologies more accessible.
Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate (RID), Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, described the “safeguard” component of this year’s theme as a reminder of the need to protect and commercialize local research. He said the Directorate was helping build a robust innovation ecosystem at the university and preparing to mark 15 years of driving research and innovation.
A panel discussion, moderated by Professor Duah Dwomoh of the School of Public Health, featured experts from ISSER, IESS, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and UG’s Research Directorate. The discussion focused on transforming ideas into impact and highlighted the role of intellectual property in supporting climate innovations.
The event also featured the launch of the UG-RID Thesis Innovation Awards, which honored three students — Wisdom Mensah, Peace Semekor Adegbenu and Clementine Odei — for their originality and innovation in undergraduate, master’s and doctoral research, respectively. The winners received cash prizes and further support to develop their ideas into viable ventures.
Activities leading up to the climax included colloquia, outreach programs and community engagements across the university’s colleges and departments.
This year’s DSRA celebration was organized by the Research and Innovation Directorate, in collaboration with UG-Nkabom, CCRES, ISSER and other institutional and private sponsors.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Awandare expressed hope that the celebration would renew the university’s commitment to science-driven solutions for sustainable development.
Speakers at UG’s DSRA make case for climate action through science and innovation
