Cape coast: The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has provided research support grants to 43 individual faculty members and groups to advance quality research initiatives as part of the institution's commitment to impactful research. The grants were distributed during the university's 10th Research Awards and Grants (RAG) ceremony, which coincided with the second Research and Innovation Week.
According to Ghana News Agency, the university also recognized seven faculty members for their outstanding research contributions. Honorees included Dr. Edward Wilson Ansah from the College of Education Studies, Dr. Kwamena Sekyi Dickson from the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Dr. Isaac Tabiri Henneh from the College of Health and Allied Sciences, and Dr. Moses Segbenya from the College of Distance Education. Awards were also given to Prof. Ransford Opoku Darko and Prof. Ernest Teye from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, as well as Dr. Peterson Owusu Junior from the College of Humanities and Legal Studies.
The RAG ceremony, organized annually by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC), aims to celebrate and promote research excellence and innovation among faculty. This year's theme was 'National Research Fund for sustainable development: A strategic developmental agenda or a political rhetoric?' The event featured exhibitions of innovative research from faculty members, emphasizing the university's contribution to national development and highlighting the need for increased stakeholder support.
Professor David Teye Doku, Director of DRIC, explained that the grants serve as seed funding for faculty to explore new ideas and position themselves for larger external grants. He noted that 77 applications were received, but only 43 qualified. He emphasized the urgent need for research-driven innovations in Ghana to address challenges such as economic hardships, environmental degradation, and public health issues.
Prof. Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, the inaugural Governing Board Chair of the Ghana National Research Fund, stressed the necessity of a sustainable public research fund to promote national development. He highlighted the gaps in research infrastructure and funding in Ghana and announced the official launch of the Ghana National Research Fund on June 4, 2026, with an initial funding of 50 million Cedis.
Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, commended the staff for their dedication to research. He emphasized the importance of impactful and trans-disciplinary research in addressing global issues such as climate change and food insecurity and affirmed UCC's commitment to its 2023 - 2027 research plan. He called for governmental support for the Ghana National Research Fund, citing successful examples in Nigeria and South Africa.
Prof. Aheto also expressed gratitude to UCC's funding partners, industry collaborators, and international bodies for their ongoing support, encouraging other stakeholders to contribute towards advancing Ghana's research capabilities.