Fumesua (Ash), Sept. 17, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene has commended the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for living up to its mandate of assisting and promoting the development of Ghana's rich resources through research and science and technology interventions.

He said such efforts by the Council have helped greatly to transform the lives of the citizenry for their total wellbeing. This was contained in a speech read oh his behalf at an open Day of the CSIR at Fumesua near Kumasi on Tuesday.

The day was marked on the theme "CSIR -Championing Science and Technology for National Development" and formed part of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Council.

The Asantehene cited among others the development and production of clay Pozzolana as 30 per cent replacement for Portland cement in the building industry, the establishment of a national road accident data base for national traffic safety policy and intervention, as well as the development of high- yielding consumer acceptable food and industrial crop varieties as some of the major achievements of the Council. He also noted with satisfaction research efforts by the Council in soil fertility management for sustainable crop production and soil erosion control on farm lands and in human settlements.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said it was high time the nation recognized and concretized the transforming power of science and technology innovation since the level of a nation's development was determined by her advancement in technology.

He promised that Manhyia would continue to partner CSIR in its research and development efforts, to enable it realize its objective of reducing poverty through science and technology.

Dr Salifu Alhassan, Director-General of the Council decried that Ghana's investment in science and technology was well below the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) threshold recommended in the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 that enjoined African governments to allocate a quantum of one per cent GDP towards research.

He therefore called for a policy direction by government in changing public perception about science and technology whilst attracting the needed investments into research to benefit the nation.