Collins Sefa African Leaders Urged to Invest in Biotech and Entrepreneurship. Professor Gordon Awandare, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Ghana, has called on African leaders to invest strategically in biotechnology and foster entrepreneurship to turn academic research into practical, market-ready products that can transform lives.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 10th anniversary forum of the African Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE), Prof. Awandare said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s over-reliance on external sources for critical supplies like vaccines and medicine.
“We were waiting for others to send us leftovers of drugs. We cannot wait for that to happen again,” he asserted. “Africa must be proactive in building capacity to develop its own solutions and products.”
Launched in 2014, ACE is a pan-African initiative aimed at strengthening higher education and research to support sustainable development. This year’s forum brought together 500 participants including education and finance ministers, academics, and development partners from across the continent. The event was co-organised by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Association of African Universities, and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, with support from the World Bank and the French Development Agency.
Unlocking Africa’s Research Potential through Entrepreneurship
Prof. Awandare emphasized that while groundbreaking research is being conducted at institutions like the University of Ghana, the lack of local biotech companies limits the conversion of these discoveries into commercial innovations.
“We have identified drug candidates, vaccine targets, and biomarkers for cancer and other diseases. But without biotech entrepreneurs and investment-ready companies to take these forward, the research remains in academic journals,” he said. “We need policies that encourage startup ecosystems and partnerships between academia and industry to translate innovations into scalable ventures.”
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement at the University of Ghana has already trained 120 PhDs in plant breeding and is working to create improved crop varieties tailored to African conditions. Meanwhile, the Kofi Annan Enterprise Hub for agricultural innovation has developed high-yielding, pest-resistant crops such as tomatoes, rice, cassava, groundnuts, cowpeas, and maize—showcasing the kind of innovation that, with the right entrepreneurial support, could transform food systems across the continent.
Innovation as a Driver for Jobs and Development
Dr. Kojo Appiah, Co-Founder and Chairman of African Network Incorporation, echoed the call for research-driven entrepreneurship, stating that innovation is vital to tackling Africa’s pressing challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and emerging health crises.
He emphasized that entrepreneurship rooted in local innovation can fuel job creation, improve public health, and foster inclusive economic growth.
“We must build an ecosystem where research doesn’t just end in publications but becomes the foundation for businesses that can employ people and create long-term socio-economic impact,” he noted.
The forum concluded with strong calls for national and regional policies that support institutional collaboration, promote innovation, and build a pipeline from university research to commercial product development and entrepreneurship.
