By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, May 28, GNA – The World Bank, Ghana, in partnership with the University of Ghana (UG) have held an inaugural PhD Students Research Colloquium to champion research based development in Ghana and Africa.
This adds up to the Bank’s Transformation Dialogue Series, which it cohosts with the African Centre for Economic Transformation and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, UG.
The event, held on Tuesday at the Bank’s premises in Accra, saw some selected PhD candidates from the University’s Economics Department present their research thesis on socioeconomic development issues.
The presentations covered several disciplines in economics, including monetary, health, public sector economics and international economics.
Mr Robert Taliercio O’Brien, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, said they were placing renewed emphasis on knowledge as a core part of how they supported development.
“Through what we call the Knowledge Bank, we are working to ensure that the best global evidence, operational experience, data, and practical lessons are brought together in ways that are useful to countries and institutions,” he added.
Mr O’Brien said they intended to make development knowledge more accessible, more actionable, and more connected to implementation on the ground in a systematic way.
He stressed that research mattered to them because development was ultimately solving real problems under real constraints.
Mr O’Brien said through the collaboration they could connect researchers to policy questions that mattered by creating opportunities for dialogue between scholars, government, and practitioners.
Also, by supporting access to data, evidence, and international experience; and by helping to elevate research that had strong potential to inform reform.
Professor Edward Nketiah-Amponsah, Head of Economics Department, UG, said the colloquium provided a valuable opportunity for the candidates to present their work, exchange ideas and engage constructively with peers, faculty and practitioners from the World Bank.
“Their participation demonstrates the department’s commitment to nurturing critical thinking, analytical excellence and evidence-based research.”
“Such collaborations are invaluable in strengthening the link between academic research and development practise. We can only pray for the sustainability of such a fantastic initiative, which we wholeheartedly welcome,” he added.
GNA
Edited Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Jesse Ampah Owusu