He said while researchers across Ghana were producing groundbreaking work in areas such as agriculture, health, energy and education, the impact of such research would remain limited if the results were not effectively communicated to the public.

Prof. Kponyo made the call at a three-day training to begin Phase Three of the Capacity Building Programme for Media Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Reportage in Accra.

The programme, which brings together journalists, editors and science communicators, aims to equip media professionals with the skills to report accurately and effectively on scientific and technological developments.

Participants in the three-day workshop are expected to receive practical training in research interpretation, science storytelling, multimedia reporting and ethical science journalism.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s science communication ecosystem and ensure that scientific discoveries contribute meaningfully to national development.

Prof. Kponyo said although conducting research was important, ensuring that research findings reached ordinary citizens was equally critical.

“It is one thing doing research, but it is another thing being able to communicate the results of your research,” he said.

He explained that regardless of how excellent a piece of research might be, it would have little value if it failed to improve the lives of people.

“If the man on the street does not have his life transformed by your research, then it is of no use,” he added.

Prof. Kponyo noted that building collaboration between journalists and scientists was essential to ensuring that complex scientific information was translated into simple, understandable language for the public.

The workshop, he said, was designed not only to build the capacity of journalists but also to encourage researchers to engage more confidently with the media.

Prof. Kponyo noted that scientists often shied away from the camera and public engagement, making it difficult for research outcomes to reach communities that could benefit from them.

He expressed appreciation to the British High Commission and other partners for supporting the programme over the past two years and pledged the commitment of KNUST to sustaining initiatives that promoted science communication.

Prof Abigail Opoku-Mensah, Acting Administrator of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF), emphasised the critical role of the media in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding.

Ghana’s ambition to building a knowledge-based economy depended not only on producing research but also on ensuring that the results were widely understood and applied by citizens, she noted.

“Ghana is at a pivotal junction in its development trajectory. We aspire to a knowledge economy where value is created not only by natural resources but also by the generation and application of ideas,” she said.

Prof. Opoku-Mensah noted that significant public resources had been invested in scientific research through institutions such as universities and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

However, much of the knowledge generated remained inaccessible to the public because of weak science communication, she added.

“The gap between what science knows and what the public understands is not primarily a scientific failure; it is in significant measure a communication failure,” she said.

Prof. Opoku-Mensah described science journalists as a “critical infrastructure” within Ghana’s knowledge ecosystem, stressing that they served as the bridge that connected scientific discovery to citizens, farmers, businesses and policymakers.

She explained that the mandate of the Ghana National Research Fund extended beyond funding research to ensuring that research findings were transferred into practical applications.

She said the legal framework establishing the Fund required it to promote technology transfer and the implementation of research outcomes to solve real societal challenges.

“Research does not end when a paper is published. Research ends when its findings reach the people who need them.”

Mr Johnson Singir, Head of the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub, said the programme formed part of broader efforts to strengthen science, technology and innovation collaboration between Ghana and the United Kingdom.

Both countries, he noted, had maintained strong partnerships in science and innovation and were working to deepen cooperation through joint initiatives, research collaborations and knowledge exchange programmes.

Mr Singir explained that the partnership aimed to increase the number, quality and impact of joint science and technology initiatives between Ghana and the UK.

The collaboration focuses on strengthening ecosystem coordination, promoting knowledge and skills sharing, fostering partnership co-creation and supporting the commercialisation of research outputs.

The Head of the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub said improving public understanding of science was central to advancing innovation and ensuring that research findings translated into economic and social benefits.

The strategy also prioritises sectors such as information and communication technology, health and pharmaceuticals, education, agriculture and manufacturing to drive innovation-led development.

Some selected journalists participating in the programme would receive funding support to undertake specialised reporting projects in science, technology and innovation, aimed at deepening public understanding of research and its impact on society.

The initiative would also provide an opportunity for outstanding participants to travel to the United Kingdom for advanced training and exposure, where they would engage with leading research institutions, media organisations and innovation hubs to strengthen their capacity in science journalism and knowledge communication.