The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has established a central laboratory to function as a shared facility for use in both basic and applied science research.

The six million euro facility would provide research scientists of varied backgrounds, government and research agencies, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agro-chemical and chemical industries in Ghana and abroad access to state-of-the-art equipment.

These were bought by the university through its internally generated funds.

Champion Divine Clinic, a Kumasi-based herbal hospital and pharmaceutical company, contributed 25 per cent of the GH¢1.250 million that was used to construct the structure housing the equipment.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Minister of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), applauded KNUST for the project.

He said it would not only promote efficient use of resources but also enhance collaboration and interaction of ideas among researchers.

He suggested the establishment of central laboratories in all the regional capitals, to facilitate collaborative research in the regions and districts.

Mr Ayariga underlined the need for research institutions to develop local technologies to replace the foreign ones and reduce the importation of technologies.

Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, Minister of Education, in an address read on her behalf, said the proposed establishment of the central research fund was to help support such initiatives.

She appealed to research scientists to support the government to speed up the passage of a bill for the process and support research activities.

Prof William Otu Ellis, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, said the motive was to establish a facility comparable to any research and teaching facility that could be found in any part of the world.

He called on the regulatory bodies, business organisations and other research institutions to take advantage of the facilities at the laboratory to improve performance.