Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for increased funding for research into tropical medicine.

He said the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) of the University, which was leading the effort, required stronger support, given the expansive and complex nature of the activity.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call in a speech read on his behalf by the Mawerehene, Baffour Osei Hyeaman, at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Centre in Kumasi.

The theme chosen for the event was “20 years of research for life”.

KCCR, a joint project of the University, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Germany, and the Ministry of Health has over the years assisted in the medical diagnostics, management and treatment of diseases, including malaria, filariasis, Buruli ulcer and tuberculosis.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the emergence of varied tropical diseases demanded stepped up effort to promptly deal with these to reduce morbidity and mortality.

“We need to invest more in scientific research activities that seek to develop appropriate remedies in dealing with epidemics and other threats”, he added.

Professor Rolf Horstmann, Board Chairman of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Germany, pledged to continue to deepen its partnership with the KCCR to bring down tropical diseases.

Prof Ellis Owusu-Dabo, immediate-past Director of the KCCR, praised the vision of the founding fathers of the Centre.