The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has called for increased investment in African-led research, warning that heavy reliance on foreign funding risks shaping the continent’s knowledge systems.
Speaking in an interview after delivering her inaugural lecture as a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Amfo said external funding, while important, often comes with conditions that may not reflect Africa’s realities.
“Within the African economy, it’s important that we recognise the knowledge we produce on the continent… because he who pays the piper calls the tune,” she said.
Her lecture, titled “Reclaiming Voice in the Global Order: Language, Gender and the African Academy,” was held at the Kwame Nkrumah Auditorium and attended by academics, students and policymakers, including Haruna Iddrisu.
Prof. Amfo said African scholars remain underrepresented in global research, citing cases where authors from the continent account for as little as 0.7% of contributors in some academic journals.
She also highlighted persistent gender disparities in academia, noting that female scholars publish less and receive fewer citations due to structural, cultural, and linguistic barriers.
“There’s a need for special attention to be paid to women… so that we find our rightful place in the academy,” she said.
Prof. Amfo urged governments and the private sector to increase funding for research and support women in academia, describing it as critical to strengthening Africa’s voice in global knowledge production and driving long-term development.
