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The Social Investment Fund (SIF) has officially handed over a project site for the construction of a Biotechnology Research Centre at the University of Ghana to contractors, marking the start of physical works on the facility.
The project forms part of the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP), a five-year Government of Ghana initiative funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The programme is aimed at strengthening skills development, research capacity and productivity, particularly in the health and science sectors.
The Biotechnology Research Centre, which will be constructed by Bawahuud Limited, is expected to be completed within 12 months. Funding for the project will come from the US$28.5 million grant allocated to the PSDPEP by the AfDB.
The facility will comprise modern laboratories equipped with advanced research facilities, offices, classrooms and other supporting infrastructure to enhance training, innovation and research in biotechnology.
Speaking at a handing-over ceremony held at the Biotechnology Centre of the University of Ghana, the Chief Executive Officer of SIF, Mr Abass Nurudeen, described the event as a significant transition from planning to implementation under the PSDPEP.
He stated that the project was a major component of the programme and would contribute significantly to strengthening Ghana’s health sector, enhancing research capacity and building resilient systems capable of responding to future public health challenges. He stressed the importance of adhering to approved designs, timelines, quality standards, and environmental and safety requirements, noting that the project was approaching its closing period.
The Founding Director of the Biotechnology Centre and Project Coordinator for Biotechnology Research under the PSDPEP, Prof. Kwame Offei, said the new facility would significantly expand the Centre’s capacity to train more students and undertake advanced biotechnology research. He explained that the project would help close critical gaps in Ghana’s biotechnology research landscape, particularly in the area of genomic research.
Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences at the University of Ghana, expressed appreciation to SIF and its partners, describing the project as timely and aligned with the University’s strategic focus on impactful research. He noted that the Centre would serve not only Ghana but also the wider West African sub-region, where advanced biotechnology research facilities remain limited.
The Project Manager for the Research Centre, Mr Daniel Asare Amoako, assured stakeholders that the construction would be completed on schedule and to the highest quality standards.
The PSDPEP, which is expected to run until 2027, will also support the construction of additional research and skills development centres in nursing, midwifery and microbiology at the University of Ghana.
