Ahead of the Evidence to Action Conference (E2A 2026), the Director of the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana, Prof Robert Osei, has touted the importance of translating multidisciplinary research into public policy.
This is a call for a dynamic shift in how Ghana, and Africa more broadly, can convert knowledge into real development outcomes.
Prof Robert Osei made this call when Dr. Fadel Ndiame of the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research and the team from the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) paid a courtesy call on him.
Also present were other senior academics, including Prof. Simon Bawakyillenuo and Dr. Richmond Atta-Ankomah, as well as ICED’s research leadership led by Dr. Kwadwo Danso-Mensah. The meeting was part of the preparations for the upcoming Evidence to Action Conference and Exhibition (E2A 2026).
From Research & Knowledge to Action
For years, Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa’s research institutions, universities, academicians, among others, have produced strong academic research across economics, social sciences, health, and governance.
However, the gap between research findings and actual policy decisions remains wide. This means research and knowledge acquired hardly translate into policy choices to improve the socio-economic environment.
For him, the effective way Ghana and the rest of the continent can catch up with the rest of the world is through bridging the gap between research and policy.
In practical terms, this means universities must not operate in isolation from government priorities and researchers must communicate findings in ways policymakers can use.
Institutions must collaborate across disciplines, economists, data scientists, public health experts, and governance specialists, working together as government agencies actively integrate evidence into decisions
This is where the idea of multidisciplinary research becomes critical. As many development economists and analysts have observed, Ghana’s challenges, whether in energy, debt sustainability, healthcare, or education, are no longer single-sector problems. They require layered, data-driven solutions.
Why Investing in Higher Education Matters More Than Ever
Prof. Osei also emphasized the need for significant investment in higher education. This, he believes, will enable the country to move away from just producing knowledge but also applying it like the advanced countries.
In Ghana’s context, strengthening and investing in universities and research institutes will mean building local capacity instead of relying on external expertise
It also requires the generation of context-specific solutions rather than imported policies and training a workforce that can think critically and innovate
Without this, policy risks becoming reactive rather than strategic.
“What will enable us to catch up [to the world] is investing in higher education and translating multidisciplinary research into policy, [therefore] taking the research output and feeding it into the policy space,” Prof Robert Osei remarked.
E2A 2026: Bridging the Gap Between Evidence and Policy
The upcoming Evidence to Action Conference and Exhibition (E2A 2026), led by the International Centre for Evaluation and Development in partnership with Partnership for African Social and Governance Research and other institutions, is designed to tackle exactly this challenge.
E2A has grown into a platform that brings together researchers, policymakers, development partners, and practitioners to move beyond theory, focusing on how evidence can directly shape policy and practice.
The 2026 edition is expected to deepen this agenda by showcasing practical examples of research influencing policy and encouraging cross-country and cross-sector collaboration.
It will also strengthen the link between academia and government decision-making. The conference promises to be a turning point in how Ghana and Africa rethink the role of research in development.
