Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Ghana


The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was established by NLC Decree 293 of October 10, 1968 amended by NLCD 329 of 1969, and re-established in its present form by CSIR Act 521 on November 26, 1996. The genesis of the Council however, dates back to the erstwhile National Research Council, which was established by government in August 1958 to organize and coordinate scientific research in Ghana. In 1963, the NRC merged with the former Ghana Academy of Sciences, a statutory learned society. Following a review in 1966, the Academy was reconstituted into, essentially, its original component bodies, namely a national research organization redesignated the CSIR and a learned Society, designated the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The distinctive features of the 1996 Act are the emphasis accorded private sector concerns, and the introduction of market principles into the Council's operations through the commercialization of research. In this connection, the Council is expected to generate part of its income through the sale of its products and services, and to institute a system of contract research.

Mandate

The CSIR is mandated to perform the following functions among others:
;The Council
The statutory Governing Council is made up of a Chairman and 20 members. They/these include representatives of selected Ministries, Health, Trade and Industries, Environment, Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation the Universities, various production and commercial associations, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Development Planning Commission, CSIR Directors, Senior Staff of CSIR, among others. The CSIR Act requires that 40 per cent of the membership of the Council be drawn from the private sector.
The Council is answerable to the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.
;Director-General
The Director-General is the Chief Executive of the CSIR.
Functions of the Director-General include: policy issues; co-ordination; monitoring
& evaluation; external relations including technical aid scheme and technical
agreement; lobbying and advocacy and CSIR relations.
;Deputy Director-General
The Deputy Director-General is responsible to the Director-General for overseeing the development and execution of the research and development activities of the thirteen institutes of the CSIR as well as the Council's programmes and projects; assists the Director- General in setting the research priorities of the Council in line with Government policy and acts for the Director General in his/her absence.
;Director of Administration
The Director of Administration is responsible to the Director-General for oversight/day-to-day administration of the Head Office including authorization of administrative expenditure/remuneration management; Council matters including secretaryship to Council; human resource management of the CSIR; Communication of policies to Institutes; and monitoring policy implementation.
;Director of Finance
The Director of Finance is to advise the Director-General on all matters relating to Finance and Accounting; to advise the Directors of the Institutes of the Council on Financial and Accounting matters; advise on the preparation and submission of Annual, Personnel Emolument, Administrative Service and Development Estimates of the Institutes of the Council; and Preparations of Annual Consolidated Accounts and Balance Sheet of the Council after all the Accounts of the Institutes have been audited by their external Auditors.
;Director of Commercialization
The Director of Commercialization is to advise the Director-General on all issues relating to commercialization; to oversee all operations of Commercialization and Information Divisions of the institutes in terms of strategy development and implementation; oversee marketing orientation and training programmes; supervise the activities of Marketing Officers/Public Relations Officers; provision of pricing and costing information; advertising and promotion; marketing research and information; corporate image building and S&T popularization.
;Director of Audit
The Director of Audit is to establish policies for auditing activity and direct/technical and administrative functions. Develop and execute comprehensive audit programmes to evaluate internal controls over all of the Institute's activities; Coordinate audit planning and other internal audit activities, and liaises with Council's external auditors.
;Legal Officer
The Legal Officer is responsible to the Director-General for all legal and quasi-legal matters relating to the rights and obligations of the Council; advising the Directors of the Council on all legal and quasi-legal matters in respect of rights, obligations and on matters relating to labour disputes and discipline; Revising existing rules and regulations; drafting contracts; writing of legal opinion for the Director-General and Directors of various Institutes; advising on patent laws; handling court cases on behalf of the Council before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice; and Liaising with the Council's external Solicitors.

Institutes of the Council

Currently, the Council exercises control over thirteen institutes, namely *Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Head Office
Wontumi, Quist and Co.

Collaboration

Through collaboration with international scientific organizations, CSIR has become the research hub that houses various scientific research organizations including;