Nhyiaeso Member of Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Stephen Amoah, popularly known as Sticka, has called for a collective commitment to research in the country for sustainable development.
He says most policies implemented by both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) governments couldn’t be sustained because they lacked research.
According to the lawmaker, it was time Ghana devoted resources to research for its policies to stand the test of time.
In an exclusive interview with OnuaOnline, on the sidelines of the University of Ghana’s Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research’s (ISSER) forum on sanitation in Accra on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Sticka said it was time political differences were sacrificed at the expense of national development.
“For once, some of these things, we should be very, very serious about them. And then make sure that we, for once, put our political differences aside and make sure that these areas of common interest, we upscale our commitment and our performances to ensure that we build a very sustainable, resilient economic framework,” he stated.
He noted that the failure to prioritise research has been a bane on the nation’s development. “Ghana here, one of our weaknesses is our inability to strengthen the research segment of the entire ecosystem of our country,” he stated.
According to him, successive governments have taken lightly the impact of research on policy formulation, making him question whether leadership has been committed to the constitutionally mandated percentage of revenue apportioned to research over the years.
“So we have a law. The law stipulates that at least 0.5% of our budget revenue that we get here should go into research. So I was actually teasing whether indeed we commit that amount into research or not.
“Because 2024 alone, we had about $226.7 billion in terms of expenditure, our budget. 0.5% of them would be over $100 million. So you realize that if we are to commit these things, this amount into research, most of our policies will be sustainable.”
The MP called on his colleague Members of Parliament from the various divide who were present at the forum to champion the cause in Parliament for resilient policies.
About the ISSER research on sanitation
The ISSER-led research offers policymakers a data-driven case for prioritising sanitation financing as a development catalyst, aligning national efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals and positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable urban management.
The research puts a spotlight on waste investment opportunities rather than the crisis.
Presenting the report to stakeholders on Thursday, February 26, Prof. Peter Quartey of ISSER, stressed the need for the state to see waste management not as a burden, but as one of Ghana’s most promising economic investments.
The study, titled “An Economic Analysis of the Benefits of Adequate Investment in Waste Management and Sanitation in Ghana”, presented a compelling evidence that strategic and sustained financing of sanitation systems can generate measurable economic returns, protect public health, and stimulate job creation.
Rather than dwelling on overflowing landfills or strained municipal budgets, the study highlighted the gains Ghana stands to make, including reduced healthcare costs, improved workforce productivity, stronger environmental resilience, and enhanced urban livability.
It quantified how every cedi invested in structured waste collection, recycling infrastructure, and sanitation services can translate into long-term savings and economic growth.
Following the presentation, a stakeholder dialogue highlighted on the need to move the conversation beyond managing waste to harnessing its economic potential, reinforcing the idea that sustainable sanitation is not merely a social obligation but a smart investment in Ghana’s future.
‘Our policies are not sustainable because we don’t precede them with research’ – Sticka
