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A Senior Research Scientist in Hydrology and Climate, Dr Emmanuel Obuobie, has been inducted as the new Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), pledging to transform the institute into the country’s centre of excellence in water research by 2030.
He said the target was to ensure that the institute produced world-class science and innovative technologies that directly informed national water policy, empowered communities and drove sustainable water security across Ghana.
“Ghana faces increasing pressures from water pollution, watershed degradation, rapid urbanisation and population growth and climate change. These challenges affect our drinking water, agriculture, health, industries, ecosystems and ultimately our national development.
Speaking at his induction, Dr Obuobie said for the next five years, his leadership of the CSIR-WRI would be anchored on four priorities – research excellence and innovation, making scientific research create visible impact; build a financially sustainable Institute and invest in people, and build a culture of integrity, inclusion and shared ownership.
He said having spent 17 years at CSIR-WRI and 23 years in scientific research, he had gathered enough experience to lead the institute to the next phase of transformation in line with the country’s development agenda.
“I have seen at close range the scientific capability of this institute, the commitment of our people, the challenges we face, and importantly, the enormous possibilities before us.
Therefore, Ghana needs a Water Research Institute that does more than study problems; we must help the country anticipate them, understand them and solve them,” he said.
The new CSIR-WRI Director said more would be done to improve environmental biotechnology, water quality and sanitation, biomedical and public-health research, inland ecosystems and the protection and sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.
Dr Obuobie added that the next five years would be focused on strengthening CSIR-WRI’s laboratories, research infrastructure and completion of the ongoing construction of the new laboratory complex.
“My ambition is simple: when Ghana faces a major water challenge, decision-makers should instinctively ask, “What does the science from CSIR-WRI tell us?” he said.
The senior research scientist gave a firm assurance that his vision would be to ensure that scientific research was made more beneficial to the society.
“Publications remain important, but we must also ask harder questions about whether our research influenced policy or whether technology has been adopted.
We need to also ask hard questions about whether communities have benefited from our research and how water management improved because of the evidence we produced.
“We will connect research more deliberately to policy and practice and establish the State of Ghana's Water Resources Report as an important scientific contribution to national decision-making,” he said
Dr Obuobie added that he would strengthen the CSIR-WRI’s capacity to mobilise competitive research funding, expand strategic partnerships, improve consultancy services and commercialise appropriate research outputs.
“My vision sets the ambition of doubling competitive grants and internally generated funds over the five-year period. But the greatest resource of this Institute is not our buildings or equipment; it is our people,” he said.
He said the next five years would see intensified investment in staff development, mentorship and career progression as well as creating opportunities for young scientists to grow while drawing upon the experience of senior and retired scientists.
“I want CSIR-WRI to become a place where talented people are proud to work, where excellence is recognised, and where the next generation of Ghanaian water scientists can flourish,” he stressed.
Dr Obuobie also said his vision was to build an institute where excellence and integrity were expected; “where leadership listens; where people can disagree professionally; where opportunities are fairly provided; and where every scientist, technician, administrator and support staff understands that his or her contribution matters.”
The Chairman of the CSIR Council, Mark Taylor, said the council was engaging the government to secure additional resources to strengthen the infrastructure required by research institutes to perform their mandates effectively.
"Before the end of this year, we expect to present details of various funding allocations and infrastructure improvement initiatives," he said.
Mr Taylor stressed that improved funding and infrastructure must be accompanied by strong leadership, innovation, accountability and a determination to translate research into solutions that improve the lives of our people.
The "WRI has enormous opportunities to expand its impact through water testing and certification, consultancy services, water treatment technologies, professional training, environmental assessments and the intelligent application of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence," he added.
