He said these groups and individuals deny African scientists the opportunity to get funding for research work if the scientists do not conform to their dictates.

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of an inaugural lecture at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on the topic ‘the tyranny of foreign expertise: epistemic injustice in the global arena with impacts for Ghanaians’ public health care, Dr. Badu Akosa said the development was greatly affecting scientific research on the continent.

“There appears to be an institutional gang against the work and independence of African research. We live where the work is, and we know the disease, but somehow, we are muscled and we cannot be allowed to speak,” he said.

He added that “fundamentally, it is because they will fund the research. If they give you money, then they will expect you to answer certain specific questions. And the chances are that, if you are giving alternative views, then they will let you know that is not the essence of funding research, and what that boils down to is that next time, you are not going to get their funds. African scientists have been stifled and you speak out of term, you are labeled and ostracized from funding.”

Many experts have lamented the low level of Africa-produced research to guide policy and development in African countries.

Very often, research into diseases and other scientific fields on the continent are produced by foreign scientists, raising questions about the potential of the continent’s scientists, but Prof. Akosa believes scientists on the continent are capable of producing quality research work if the existing challenges are addressed.

Meanwhile, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Helen Lauer, has accused international donors of peddling falsehoods about AIDS and Ebola to sell fake drugs in Africa.

According to Prof. Lauer, the findings of African scientists are ignored in favour of exaggerated facts just to frighten taxpayers in the West for economic gain.

She has therefore challenged African scientists to confront what she describes as “white ignorance” instead of tolerating it.

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By: Jonas Nyabor & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Institutional gangs’ working against African scientists – Prof. Akosa appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The late Obeng held various political and public positions in Ghana and worked closely with many politicians from both sides of the divide.

Mr Obeng served in the Rawlings administration and was a senior advisor to the late President John Mills and continued in a similar role under current President, John Mahama.

PV believed in Ghana – Nana Ato Dadzie

A former Chief of Staff under the Rawlings administration, Nana Ato Dadzie on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday stated that Ghana has lost a gem.

According to him, Mr. Obeng lived all his life in the public service and greatly contributed to the development of the nation.

“To think that he started as a private man, a private engineer and drifted into government…PV was a leader of the pack…he pulled all of us together, he developed ideas and moved the country forward,” he recalled.

He remarked that during the PNDC era, Mr. Obeng played a crucial role to move the country forward despite the challenges and hardships Ghanaians were experiencing.

Mr. Dadzie said the late PV Obeng was a firm believer in Ghana, “he was a patriot, a nationalist; he believed that there was a brighter future for Ghana. When you look back today at how far we’ve come, we are proud that we served.”

He further described the late senior presidential advisor  as “a consensus man, a bridge builder, he was the type of person who could rally people round and push us to forget our pain…and just move on.”

PV was not an extremist – John Ndebugri

A former PNDC secretary for the Northern Region, John Ndebugri said the news of the death of PV Obeng “was a shock to me…I just was speechless and I think that it is a tragedy for Ghana.”

He recalled that Mr. Obeng had earlier complained that “I [Ndebugri] am not in touch, I’m not in touch. Apparently, maybe he wanted us to meet for the last time but I think that it’s really, really tragic…and I still do not want to accept it that he is gone just like that.”

Mr. Ndebugri, who worked in the late PV Obeng’s office during the PNDC era, noted that his former boss was a moderate politcian who always brought people together.

These qualities, he said, is the possible reason “chairman Rawlings at that time relied so heavily on him because he was able to hold the middle ground and bring all forces to the center at least for negotiations.”

PV was a teacher – Moses Asaga

The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Moses Asaga on his part described the late PV Obeng as “an illustrious son of this country and I think that the NDC, government and the whole of Ghana have lost a baobab tree.”

He recollected that during his tenure as a deputy Finance Minister, “I worked closely with him; he taught me a lot of things, on how to manage the economy, etcetera.”

According to him, when the NDC was in opposition “I used to visit his home and then he will tell me what we must say or how to talk politely in Parliament, the issues that I must raise and that helped me a lot to have a balanced view as a ranking member for finance.”

PV had a huge brain capacity – Prof Akosa

A leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the Executive Director of Healthy Ghana, Professor Badu Akosa said although Mr. Obeng death came as a shock to him, it is not surprising for strong looking individuals to die unexpectedly.

“I have seen this in my daily schedule of work. It happens all the time in this country. People either go to the loo and don’t get up, those who are lucky are those who sleep and don’t get up.”

The late PV Obeng reportedly had an asthma attack while driving on the Spintex road which resulted in his death but according to Prof. Akosa, Mr. Obeng had never complained about this illness “but I thought that he has been asthmatic for all these years and that he will be on regular treatment.”

He remarked that Mr. Obeng’s schedule was huge “because every time you have a meeting with him, he will eventually get there but most of the time, he will make a few detours before he gets back to you. But the fact of the matter is that he never complained.”

Prof Akosa marveled at the brain capacity of the late Obeng and his phenomenal ability to remember happenings in Ghana in years past.

PV had a digital mind – Dr. Nii Moi Thompson

An economic advisor to the President, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson also on the Citi Breakfast Show said since he assumed this position, the late PV Obeng “is the one person that I have developed the closest working relationship with.”

According to him, PV Obeng had “a digital mind. While the rest of us are always going in circles, he always went straight to the point.”

Dr. Thompson recalled that his last interaction with him was at the National Economic Forum and “his last words to me were, ‘you know that you owe me’ and he was referring to a report.”

By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan

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