The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has made a passionate case for bolder investments in research and innovation across Africa, warning that the continent’s current budgetary commitment of just 0.45% of GDP to research is “wholly inadequate” to fuel its long-term development ambitions.
Speaking at the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE) 10th anniversary conference, Prof. Amfo described the ACE initiative as a transformative force in Africa’s higher education landscape. However, she emphasized that sustained funding—not just human resource development—is essential to unlock the full economic potential of the continent’s research ecosystem.
“Maybe this is the impetus we need to make those bold decisions and commit to funding research and innovation on the continent,” she said. “We must, as a matter of urgency, plan and make sufficient budgetary allocations. Our current investment is not enough to generate the kind of growth we aspire to.”
Launched in 2014, the ACE Program is a flagship $657 million World Bank-funded initiative supported by a $72 million co-financing from the French Development Agency (AFD). It has enrolled over 90,000 students across Africa—nearly 8,000 PhD and 30,000 master’s students—with 32% being female, thanks to deliberate inclusion policies. To date, 130 programs have received international accreditation in critical areas such as molecular cell biology, water treatment, and science and technology.
Additionally, the ACEs have developed solutions and innovations, with more than 10,350 internationally peer-reviewed publications tailored to Africa’s and global challenges.
The ACEs are distinguished by their regional specialization, taking advantage of economies of scale, fostering cross-border collaborations among universities, and bringing students from various countries together to undertake research in specific regional issues, including in agriculture, ICT, energy, engineering, environment, health, mining, transport and logistics, urban development, water, etc.
Prof. Amfo argued that Africa’s universities must be viewed as economic actors capable of driving national and global development agendas through innovation. She urged governments and the private sector to leverage research outcomes in areas such as agriculture, energy, digital development, and health systems to solve real-world problems and catalyze economic growth.
“Are we using science to build the future we want?” she asked, echoing a key theme from the 2021 UNESCO Science Report.
The ACE initiative has also fostered stronger partnerships between academia, industry, and communities. According to Professor Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities (AAU), the program has provided critical resources and networks needed for world-class research.
“It has proven to be a model for regional collaboration,” he noted, “fostering knowledge exchange and excellence across borders.”
Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), praised the ACE program for its catalytic role in empowering youth—especially women—through scholarships, incubation centers, and strategic partnerships.
