The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has called for a stronger connection between research and policymaking to ensure that evidence generated by researchers translates into practical solutions to Ghana’s development challenges.
The call was made at the opening of the 6th UBIDS Research and Development Conference in Wa on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, on the theme: “Research for Policy: Strengthening Evidence-Informed Policymaking for Ghana’s Development.”
Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, in a speech read on his behalf, said research must go beyond academic publications and contribute directly to solving challenges confronting communities and the country.
He said issues including youth unemployment, agricultural productivity, illegal mining, climate change, healthcare access, education and public-sector efficiency required evidence-based interventions rather than slogans.
“Research becomes truly transformative when it answers a practical question: What should we do differently because of what we now know?” the Minister said.
Puozuing urged researchers to focus increasingly on socially relevant issues, while encouraging policymakers to involve researchers early in the policy process, particularly when problems are being defined and interventions designed.
He also called for stronger collaboration among universities, government, the private sector, civil society organisations and communities to bridge what he described as the persistent gap between research and policy.
The Vice-Chancellor of UBIDS, Prof. Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, said the theme of the conference was timely, stressing that research would achieve its full value when it informed decisions that shape Ghana’s development.
He said the University remained committed to building a vibrant research and development ecosystem and was advancing plans to establish a robust Grants Management System to help researchers source, win and manage competitive research and development grants.
According to Prof. Derbile, the University has recruited two non-teaching staff with experience in grantsmanship to support the take-off of the proposed Grants Office.
He said the office would provide structured support to researchers in proposal development, compliance and partnership building, thereby strengthening UBIDS’ capacity to attract research funding.
The Director of Research at UBIDS, Prof. Frederick Dayour, disclosed that this year’s conference received 165 abstracts, out of which 140 were selected following a rigorous review process.
He said 119 participants had registered to present papers, while six others had registered to participate without presenting papers.
Prof. Dayour noted that the conference had also attracted participants from institutions in Ghana and beyond, including the University of New York, Societe Generale de Surveillance in South Africa, UDS, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Catholic University of Ghana and other institutions.
For the first time, he said, the conference had introduced policy briefs and poster presentations for postgraduate students.
The Directorate received 32 policy briefs, of which 22 were considered suitable for publication. The briefs cover areas including health systems, agriculture and food security, tourism, gender and traditional authority, procurement and governance, spatial planning and digital finance.
Prof. Dayour also announced that UBIDS had been ranked 11th out of 70 institutions in Ghana on the H-Index in the AD Scientific Index Global University Rankings 2027, describing the development as an indication of growing research visibility and impact.
The three-day conference is expected to provide a platform for researchers, policymakers, development practitioners and other stakeholders to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations and explore ways of translating research findings into policies and interventions that improve lives.
The conference also features parallel presentation sessions, networking opportunities and discussions aimed at strengthening evidence-informed policymaking in Ghana.
By Ibrahim Abubakari Wangara
