Moncton: Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Justice of the Supreme Court and the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, has called for equitable research partnerships between Canada and Africa beyond traditional aid. He emphasized that international research collaborations should empower African institutions with authority over research questions, funding, data, authorship, and intellectual property, moving beyond the traditional donor-recipient model.
According to Ghana News Agency, Justice Sir Adjei made these remarks in a keynote address at the Third Conference on Economic Growth in Atlantic Canada, organized by the City Institute of Higher Learning in Moncton, New Brunswick. The conference, held from September 10 to 11, 2026, focused on economic growth and partnerships. Justice Adjei urged stakeholders to view research relationships as enforceable partnerships rather than arrangements based on goodwill.
He highlighted the importance of the distinction between a beneficiary and a partner, noting that a beneficiary has limited ability to demand continued support, consultation, or benefits from a donor. Justice Sir Adjei stated, "A contract is different in kind. It gives both parties a claim, a forum, and a remedy." He argued that proper legal instruments could ensure the longevity of partnerships despite changes in governments, ministries, and policies.
Justice Sir Adjei pointed out that while Canada has collaborated with African countries for over 70 years, stronger instruments are needed to ensure equitable distribution of research benefits and responsibilities. He noted that African institutions are often engaged as sub-grantees, which affects control over research funds, question setting, and intellectual recognition.
He referenced a systematic review of infectious disease research conducted in Africa between 1980 and 2016, which showed that although over 90 percent of publications included at least one Africa-based author, only 49.8 percent had an African first author. This issue of authorship impacts not just recognition but also academic promotion, research grant eligibility, and the development of research leadership in Africa.
On data management, Justice Sir Adjei expressed concerns about information generated from African populations being stored on servers outside Africa, often reused under foreign laws. He urged Canadian institutions to respect African data protection laws and ensure agreements address data custody, transfer, reuse, and repatriation.
Justice Sir Adjei also addressed intellectual property and genetic resources, citing the Nagoya Protocol's importance for fair and equitable benefit-sharing when African biological and genetic resources are used for research. He emphasized the need for capacity building that leaves lasting benefits within African institutions, such as trained researchers, functioning laboratories, and locally controlled data repositories.
He proposed equitable partnership agreements covering aspects like governing law, direct access to research funds, authorship, data custody, intellectual property, publication rights, and retaining capacities within African institutions post-projects. Justice Sir Adjei called on Canadian entities to provide direct-award opportunities for African institutions, fund indirect costs fairly, and strengthen institutional partnerships over individual researcher collaborations.
He also encouraged African governments to expedite the ratification and implementation of relevant continental instruments, including the African Continental Free Trade Area intellectual property protocol, and to enhance harmonized legal frameworks to lower research collaboration costs. Justice Sir Adjei concluded by highlighting potential benefits for Atlantic Canada from stronger partnerships with African institutions in fields such as ocean and coastal science, agriculture, health systems, energy transition, and artificial intelligence governance, framing equitable partnerships as a competitive strategy.