Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim has urged government to move beyond policy promises and invest heavily in science infrastructure to secure Ghana’s long-term development.
Speaking during the 2026 Africa Science Week celebration in Tamale, the Chemical Engineering lecturer at Tamale Technical University said poor laboratories, outdated equipment, and inadequate research facilities were crippling science education and innovation across the country.
According to him, although governments over the years had recognised the importance of science and mathematics education, implementation remained weak because institutions lacked the infrastructure needed for practical learning and advanced research.
Prof. Ibrahim lamented that many lecturers and researchers were forced to engage in what he described as “desktop or survival research” due to limited funding and the absence of modern laboratories, making it difficult to compete for international grants.
He also criticised the disconnect between technical universities and traditional universities in programme assessments, arguing that technical institutions were often compelled to conform to standards that did not reflect their practical training mandates.
The week-long Africa Science Week celebration, organised by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Network in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is being attended by students, educators, and stakeholders from selected second cycle and tertiary institutions.
Prof. Ibrahim further called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to encourage practical research, innovation, and solutions to industrial challenges.
He urged government to complete abandoned infrastructure projects, equip schools with modern laboratories, and pursue bilateral partnerships that would provide institutions with advanced technology and research support.
