Ghana to champion African Light Source

Ghana will champion the AfLS to make it an official project of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The African Light Source project, which aims to construct a synchrotron⁩ facility on the continent, has received its first presidential backer in Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who said that he will table it as an African Union (AU) project when heads of state meet in July 2019.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday, 29 January 2019 following the outcomes of the Opening Ceremony of the joint conference of the 2nd African Light Source conference (AfLS2) and the 2nd Panafrican Conference on Crystallography (PCCr2).

 

The AfLS2/PCCr2 Opening Ceremony was chaired by David Dodoo-Arhin (Local Organizing Committee). Opening remarks were given by Robert Kingsford-Adaboh (Chairman of the LOC), followed by statements from Michele Zema (IUCr Executive Outreach Officer and member of LAAAMP Executive Committee), Gilberto Artioli (Chair of the PCCr2 Programme Committee) and Simon Connell (Chair of the AfLS project). Kwame Offei, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Students Affairs of the University of Ghana, delivered the welcome address on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and assured participants that the University of Ghana is committed to promoting science and technology education to the highest possible level.

Keynote speaker was Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Ghana, who delivered the President's message. The President was optimistic that the African Light Source will contribute significantly to the African Science Renaissance, the return of the African Science Diaspora, enhancement of university education, the training of new generation of young researchers, the growth of competitive African industries and the advancement of research that addresses issues, challenges and concerns relevant to Africa.

 

Pupils from University Basic School and Preset Pacesetters School attended the Opening Ceremony.  

Read the article on Ghana News Agency | Read more about the AfLS2/PCCr2 Opening ceremony