13 November 2007
editorial
Nairobi — As Mombasa hosts the five-day Africa Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology, it is commendable that the New Partnership for Africa's Development has made the harnessing of science and technology in poverty reduction amongst its top items on the agenda.
But Africa must do much more than talk over these matters. For instance, it is one thing for Kenya's minister for Science and Technology, Dr Noah Wekesa, to say Africa does not have to depend on external funding to boost its capacity for scientific and technological innovations. But it is quite another for the Government he serves to devote funds and investments to make his belief a reality.
Of course, African governments operate on low budgets, but nothing short of sacrifices will raise the amounts they pump into research and development.
But since most governments in the continent have their priorities upside down, the Bretton Woods institutions, multilateral and bilateral agencies, international NGOs and, to some extent, private companies have continued to fill the void.
This has been precarious for the continent largely because such funding is "tied" to the commercial interests of powerful countries.
As representatives of African governments meet in Mombasa, we urge them to not only read reports and adopt them, but to also provide the right policies, legal frameworks, and significant investments to science, technology and research and development.
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