Professor Robert Kingsford-Adaboh, Council Chairman, CSIR, who made the call at the thanksgiving service held in Accra, said there is the need to ensure that science, technology and innovation are mainstreamed into the key economic sectors.

He said paying attention to science and research would bring progress in our development efforts.

While charging staff of the CSIR to work harder in the coming years to increase productivity and lift the image of the Council, he expressed regret that many African countries do not give the needed attention to Science and Research which are the main drivers of world.

He urged the scientists never to despair, but to continue work and come out with "demand-driven technologies that were easily adaptable by the end users".

The 60th anniversary celebration activities, which began in May last year on the theme: "CSIR- 60 Years of Research with Impact for Sustainable Development", featured a series of events that were undertaken by the various institutes within the Council.

Prof Kingsford-Adaboh expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of the year-long celebration.

He said the activities were focused on making the CSIR more visible and it included the showcasing of the achievements of the Council through the media and an interaction with news editors.

There was also the hosting of the African Scientific Renaissance day celebration as well as a Science and Maths Quiz Competition organised among Senior High School students, aimed at encouraging students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

The Globelics International Conference was also organised with over 200 participants from Ghana and abroad attending; and various scientific papers were presented, while open days were held by all the 13 CSIR research institutes to showcase their technologies to end users.

A fund raising dinner and a Scientific Awards and Life Time Recognition Night were held to recognize renowned scientists like: Dr Leticia Obeng, the late Prof Francis Allotey and Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. 

Prof Kingsford-Adoboh said the issue of land grabbing, as it occurs on its Pokuase land, is worrying and expressed the hope that the issue would be settled amicably in the coming year.

Reverend Dr Cyril Fayose, General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana, who preached the sermon at the thanksgiving, which was interspersed with bible readings and music by the Police Church Youth Choir, congratulated the CSIR for the feat chalked over the years.

Quoting Matthew 2:1-12, Dr Fayose said, scripture talks about science and research, and how the three wise-men of the bible did a lot of diligent research studies to find a "star in the universe" that revealed the birth of Jesus Christ as the saviour of humankind.

"This made them to set out to look for him and when they found him, they were very happy- they worshipped him, gave him gifts and later went their way", he said.

Rev Fayose asked all people to respond to the good gesture of God who gave his son to redeem the world, by doing good to one another.

He said Christmas is a season of joy and giving and "you can't celebrate Christmas without giving to someone, especially someone who cannot give back to you".

Other dignitaries who attended the service included Prof Victor Kwame Agyeman, Director-General, CSIR, present and past staff of the Council, and representatives of some sister research institutions.