The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, is proud to announce that its Founding Director, Prof. Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, has been appointed the inaugural Chair of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF).
The official inauguration of the 13-member governing board took place on June 4, 2025, in Accra. It was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, who described the occasion as a major step forward in Ghana’s journey toward becoming a knowledge-driven economy.
The Ghana National Research Fund, established by Act 1056 and assented to in December 2020, is a corporate body mandated to provide sustainable financial resources for research, research infrastructure, technology generation, and innovation across all disciplines in Ghana.
In his remarks at the inauguration, Hon. Iddrisu praised the diverse academic backgrounds of the board members and urged them to uphold transparency, competitiveness, and innovation in managing the Fund.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu
“This Fund must be Ghana’s tool for developing research that speaks to our future on Artificial Intelligence (AI), water preservation, national governance, and building stronger university faculties,” the Minister stated.
He further underscored the critical role of research in national development and announced a significant financial commitment: the Fund will receive an initial GH¢50 million in 2025, with a minimum of GH¢100 million allocated for 2026 through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). He added that the government is also working toward operationalising 0.5% of national revenue and potentially increasing this to 1% to support research in Ghana.
In his inaugural address as Chair, Prof. Danquah expressed deep appreciation for the honour and described the moment as historic for Ghanaian academia:
“Today marks a significant milestone. In over three decades of my academic life, I have never witnessed a day quite like this,” he noted.
Prof. Eric Danquah
Prof. Danquah pledged the Board’s full commitment to integrity, equity, and excellence in research management. He stressed the importance of sustainable research funding and called for an increased share of the national budget to be dedicated to research, in line with global benchmarks and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
“This Fund is about more than money. It is about national transformation, sovereignty, and leveraging local knowledge to confront our most pressing challenges,” he emphasised.
The other members of the GNRF Governing Board include:
- Prof. Abigail Opoku Mensah, Administrator of the Fund, University of Professional Studies
- Prof. Paul Pinnock Bosu, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
- Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdullai, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission
- Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development
- Ago Kweshie Macgranaky Quaye, self-employed consultant
- Prof. Kennedy A. Alatinga, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
- Dr. Adjoa Agyeman Boakye, University of Health and Allied Sciences
- Dr. Rebecca Ohene-Asah, National Film and Television Institute
- Dr. Pascal Kpodo, University of Education, Winneba
- Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, University of Ghana
- Prof. Mamudu Abunga Akudugu, University for Development Studies
- Dr. Patience Danquah Monnie, University of Cape Coast
WACCI congratulates Prof. Danquah on this well-deserved recognition and is confident that his visionary leadership will help drive a bold, inclusive, and transformative research agenda for national development.
