The Minister of Environment and Science, Prof Dominic Fobih, on Friday received a report on the management of Science and Technology in Ghana from a 22-member committee drawn from the private sector, professional bodies, the University of Ghana among others.

The committee was asked to propose a framework that would allow for Science and Technology to become an integral part of the national development process.

It was to propose efficient and effective use of the nation's resources - financial, institutional and human - and to identify other issues that would allow national acceptance of Science and Technology as a tool for national development.

Prof Fobih said the report had come at a time when the Government was finalising the Poverty Reduction Strategy paper for the next three years.

He assured the committee that the report would be forwarded to Cabinet for approval. Mr Kwesi Abeasi, the Chairman, suggested that a Presidential Commission on Science and Technology be set up with the President as the head.

This, he said, would enable the political leadership to play a more direct and championing role at the national apex for Science and Technology management.

Mr Abeasi said the key benefit to be derived from such an arrangement included better inter-ministerial co-ordination and convergence of effort, better cohesion in the policy process within government, better achievements in policy implementation, and more effective resources mobilisation and utilisation.

He also suggested that the Ministry of Communication be re-named Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Dr Joseph Gogo, Director of the Science and Technology Research Policy Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, proposed that in disbursing the Poverty Alleviation Fund, proper training needed to be given to the individuals to know their priority areas before giving out the money to avoid its waste.