By Lydia Kukua Asamoah, GNA
Accra, Dec 16, GNA - The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has held a thanksgiving service to climax activities of its 60th anniversary and called for more state commitment towards Science and research.
Professor Robert Kingsford-Adaboh, Council Chairman, CSIR, who made the call at the thanksgiving service held in Accra, said the country needed to ensure that science, technology and innovation were mainstreamed into the key economic sectors.
He said paying serious attention to science and research would help the country to make progress in her development agenda.
While charging staff of the CSIR to work harder in the coming years to increase productivity and lift the image of the Council, he expressed regret that many African countries do not give much attention to Science and Research, which was the main drivers of most inventions in the world.
He however urged the scientists never to despair, but continue to work and come out with “demand-driven technologies that were easily adaptable by the end users”.
The 60th anniversary celebration activities, which began in May last year on the theme: “CSIR- 60 Years of Research with Impact for Sustainable Development” featured series of events that were undertaken throughout the Council’s institutes in the country.
Prof Kingsford-Adaboh expressed his gratitude to God for the successful completion of the year-long celebration.
He explained that the activities were focused on making the CSIR more visible and it included the showcasing of the achievements of the Council through the media, and an interaction with News Editors.
There was also the hosting of the African Scientific Renaissance day celebration as well as a Science and Maths quiz competition organised among Senior High School students, aimed at encouraging students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The Globelics International Conference was also organised with over 200 participants from Ghana and abroad attending, and delivering various scientific papers, while open days were held by all the 13 CSIR research institutes to showcase their technologies to end users.
A fund raising dinner and a Scientific Awards and Life Time Recognition Night were held to recognize renowned scientists that included Dr Leticia Obeng, the late Prof Francis Allotey, and Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Prof Kingsford-Adoboh mentioned the issue of land grabbing of the Council's land, especially, its Pokuase land, as worrying and expressed the hope that the issue would be amicably settled in the coming year.
The Reverend Dr Cyril Fayose, General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana, who gave the sermon at the thanksgiving, which was interspersed with bible readings, and spots of music and hymns by the Police Church Youth Choir, congratulated the CSIR for the feat chalked over the years.
Quoting Matthew 2:1-12, Dr Fayose, said that scripture talked about science and research, and how the Biblical three wise-men did a lot of diligent research studies to find a “star in the universe” that revealed the birth of Jesus Christ as the saviour of humankind.
“This made them to set out to look for him and when they found him, they were very happy- they worshipped him, gave him gifts and later went their way”, he said.
Rev Fayose asked all people to respond to the good gesture of God who gave his son to redeem the world, by doing [good to one another.
He said Christmas was a season of joy and giving, and therefore, “you can’t celebrate Christmas without giving to someone, especially someone who cannot give back to you”.
Other dignitaries who attended the service included Prof Victor Kwame Agyeman, Director-General, CSIR, present and past staff of the Council, and representatives of some sister research institutions.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS