UG Pro-VC Urges Sustained Research Funding To Prevent Brain Drain
Prof. Awandare warns inadequate research funding fuels talent loss at University of Ghana symposium
The University of Ghana’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare, has called for stronger and sustained investment in science and research to reverse the continent’s brain drain. He made the appeal on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the UGMC Research Symposium under the theme “From Bench to Bedside: Integrating Research, Technology, and Clinical Care in Ghana.”
Prof. Awandare warned that weak research ecosystems and inadequate funding are stripping Africa of its brightest minds. He noted that leaders often speak about science but allocate little to actual budgetary support, leaving laboratories under‑equipped and researchers poorly paid.
He highlighted the high cost of basic research, citing expensive instruments such as NMR machines, mass spectrometers, and genome sequencers that are required for drug discovery and genomics. Such infrastructure limits the continent’s ability to conduct cutting‑edge discovery work.
The Pro-Vice‑Chancellor urged African governments to match their rhetoric with concrete financial commitments, stressing that sustainable funding is essential to retain talent and boost Africa’s scientific independence.
