Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for a renewed continental focus on science, innovation, and cross-border collaboration as the cornerstone of Africa’s long-term development strategy.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Africa Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) High-Level Meeting in Accra, the Vice President emphasized the urgency for African nations to harness the transformative power of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and research-driven solutions to confront the continent’s socio-economic and environmental challenges.
The high-level conference, jointly organized by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), the African Union’s Scientific Research Council (AU-ASRIC), the Afro-Champions Initiative, and the Government of Ghana, convened top scientific minds, policy leaders, and innovation stakeholders from across Africa. The aim: to evaluate progress under Africa’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Agenda and to lay the groundwork for stronger scientific integration across the continent.
“Innovation is no longer optional—it is a necessity. Our continent’s future will be determined by how deeply we invest in knowledge creation and how effectively we collaborate,” said Prof. Opoku-Agyemang.
She underscored the importance of scientific cooperation in solving Africa’s pressing problems—ranging from climate change and food insecurity to public health and energy sustainability. In echoing President John Dramani Mahama’s call to action, she urged institutions, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to commit resources toward research and capacity building.
The Vice President applauded the ARISE platform and its partners for bringing Africa’s brightest minds together to collectively envision a prosperous and scientifically empowered continent. She described the initiative as a “beacon of hope and a practical roadmap” for creating homegrown solutions rooted in African knowledge systems and global best practices.
“To every researcher, policymaker, student, and partner involved—your commitment lights the way toward a future where Africa leads through innovation, not dependency,” she said.
As the conference concluded, participants agreed on a need for strengthened investment in research infrastructure, inclusive policies for science education, and the creation of transnational research networks to accelerate Africa’s scientific renaissance.
