The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has called for the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) to provide accessible, transparent and equitable funding opportunities for graduate researchers following the official launch of the initiative.
President John Dramani Mahama launched the Ghana National Research Fund on Tuesday, June 16, describing it as a major intervention aimed at addressing long-standing financing challenges in research and supporting Ghana’s industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.
According to the President, the Fund forms part of the government’s broader “resetting agenda” and is intended to provide sustainable and predictable financing for research and innovation. He stressed that strengthening local knowledge systems is critical to national development.
In a statement issued after the launch, GRASAG welcomed the establishment of the Fund but urged its managers to ensure graduate students are given fair access to research financing.
“GRASAG therefore calls for the Fund to deliberately create accessible, transparent, and equitable funding pathways for graduate researchers, including support for thesis and dissertation work, field research, laboratory access, publication costs, innovation, and policy-relevant studies,” the statement said.
The association noted that graduate students play a central role in Ghana’s research ecosystem through data collection, analysis, innovation, and the development of solutions to national challenges.
GRASAG also expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Fund, government, academia, industry, and development partners to ensure the initiative delivers meaningful outcomes for researchers and the country.
“As the national voice of graduate students, GRASAG stands ready to work with the Ghana National Research Fund, government, academia, industry, and development partners to ensure that this Fund delivers real value to researchers and to the country,” it stated.
The association further said the launch of the Fund should usher in a new era where research informs public policy, innovation supports industry and graduate students are empowered to contribute to Ghana’s development.
GRASAG commended the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Education and all stakeholders involved in operationalising the Fund.
The association also acknowledged the leadership of Prof. Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, Chairperson of the Governing Board, and Prof. Abigail Opoku Mensah, Acting Administrator of the Fund, for their roles in shaping the institution.
The Ghana National Research Fund was established under the Ghana National Research Fund Act, 2020 (Act 1056), to provide dedicated funding for research and innovation activities across the country.
Read below the statement by GRASAG
POSITION STATEMENT BY GRASAG ON THE LAUNCH OF THE GHANA NATIONAL RESEARCH FUND
The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) warmly welcomes the launch of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF), established under the Ghana National Research Fund Act, 2020 (Act 1056). This is a major step in Ghana’s commitment to building a knowledge-driven, innovative, and globally competitive economy.
The launch of the Fund is not merely a ceremonial achievement. It is a bold national statement that Ghana is ready to invest in ideas, evidence, innovation, and the intellectual capacity needed to solve our development challenges.
GRASAG commends the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Education, and all stakeholders who have worked to bring the Fund into operation. We also recognise the leadership of Prof. Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, Chairperson of the Governing Board, and Prof. Abigail Opoku Mensah, Acting Administrator of the Fund, whose roles are critical in shaping the direction, credibility, and impact of this important national institution.
At the heart of Ghana’s research ecosystem are graduate students. Across our universities and research institutions, graduate students design studies, collect data, analyse evidence, test ideas, and generate solutions to national problems. They are not peripheral actors in the research space; they are central to Ghana’s knowledge production and development agenda.
GRASAG therefore calls for the Fund to deliberately create accessible, transparent, and equitable funding pathways for graduate researchers, including support for thesis and dissertation work, field research, laboratory access, publication costs, innovation, and policy-relevant studies.
As the national voice of graduate students, GRASAG stands ready to work with the Ghana National Research Fund, government, academia, industry, and development partners to ensure that this Fund delivers real value to researchers and to the country.
The launch of the Ghana National Research Fund must mark a new era where research informs policy, innovation supports industry, and graduate students are empowered to contribute fully to Ghana’s transformation.
When Ghana invests in graduate research, Ghana invests in its future.
Signed
Richard Class-Peters
National President
Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana
