A group picture of officials after the event
The University of Ghana and the College of Basic and Applied Science (CBAS) have hosted the Joint 2nd African light source (Afls2) and Pan African Conference on Crystallography (Pccr2) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC).
The conference was under the auspices of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Light Sources for Africa, Asia, Americas and the Middle East project (LAAAMP), and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
The Conference, which was under the theme “Crystallography: A Tool for Sustainable Development in Africa” took place at the Bank of Ghana Auditorium from 29th January –2ndFebruary 2019.
Prof. Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Students Affairs, who delivered the welcome address on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, said he was delighted and grateful that many scholars had gathered at the University of Ghana to share knowledge and their experience in the discipline of light sources and crystallography.
Prof. Offei was optimistic that the discussions at the conference will lead to the scale up on the acquisition of the necessary infrastructure for an African Synchrotron Light source as the continent do not have a single light source infrastructure. He also noted that light source infrastructures are prime tools for scientific research and stimulating innovations, enhancing competitiveness for industries, development of skilled human capital and training of the new generation of young scientists.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor assured participants that the University of Ghana is committed to promoting science and technology education to the highest possible level. He mentioned that, the University of Ghana has recently acquired infrastructure capable of facilitating industrial research, hands-on experiment and demonstration to support the minerals and oil and gas industry on the continent.
Prof. Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Students Affairs
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana’s keynote address which was delivered by Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation was on the theme; Accelerating Africa’s Economic Growth and Industrial Competitiveness: the role of cutting-edge science, technology and its application.
According to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, science and technology have played a major role in the rapid advancement of developed countries and the fact cannot be lost on Africans. He indicated that, it was imperative for African governments who desire to undertake a transformative agenda and eradicate poverty to allow science and technology to play a leading role in its economic transformation.
The President called for the need to have strong research linkages to help overcome the defects that has weakened the capacity of research and development institutions such as the Universities and research centres in responding to the needs of industry. In view of that, he gave an assurance that, the government will do everything possible to help bridge the gap between research and industry to ensure that constraints industry are directly addressed through demand-driven research development. He indicated that the government was considering the review of the national budgetary allocation to science and technology research from a current 0.05% to 1% of the country’s GDP, a requirement of the Comprehensive African Development Programme.
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.
Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation delivering the Keynote Speech on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana’s
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pledged his government’s support to champion the African Light Source initiative and make it an official project of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as advocate multilateral relationships between the world’s light sources and various AU member states, along with their universities, research institutions and commercial industries.
The Chair of the African Light Source Project, Prof. Simon Connell, said the Light source was the most common and important resource of the African continent which is useful in a wide variety of areas. Prof. Simon Connell stated that the achievement of the African Lighthouse will make Africa a scientific hub.
Prof. Simon Connell hinted that, the road map for the maiden African Light Source was in progress and would yield solid results. According to him, the road map relates to developing the user base, the projects, deep capacity building, promoting networks, scientific and technical exchanges, building associated local infrastructural capacity, raising the profile of the project politically and developing the Pan African strategic plan with African leadership.
Chair of the African Light Source Project, Prof. Simon Connell
There were statements from Prof. Michelle Zema, Representative of the International Union of Crystallography and Professor Gilberto Artioli, IOC Chair, Pan African Crystallography Conference.
Prof. Michelle Zema, Representative of the International Union of Crystallography
Professor Gilberto Artioli, IOC Chair, Pan African Crystallography Conference.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Robert Kingsford-Adaboh, Acting Dean of the School of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences, in opening remarks indicated that Africa needed to accelerate its development through emerging science and enumerated the numerous benefits of the use of Light Sources and Crystallography claiming it was beneficial in many fields.
Also, in his closing, Prof. Robert Kingsford-Adaboh noted that the University was on track in improving science and technology. He further commended the government for supporting science and technology which he opined is the backbone of development.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Robert Kingsford-Adaboh, Acting Dean of the School of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Pupils from University Basic School and Preset Pacesetters School attended the Opening Ceremony. After the official opening ceremony, Professor Frimpong-Boateng interacted with the pupils for over forty minutes, encouraging them on the need to take science seriously, and responding to a number of questions from them. Even though this side event was an informal session, it was very lively and interactive as Prof. Frimpong-Boateng engaged the pupils with passion. The pupils and other officials and participants later had a photo session with Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
Present at the opening of the conference were, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Daniel Kwadwo Asiedu, Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, H.E. Dr. Özlem Ergün Ulueren (Ambassador, Embassy of Turkey), H.E. Timothy Mwaba Walamba (High Commissioner- Zambian High Commission), and Professor Richard Catlow (Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society).
Dr. David Dodoo-Arhin (Conference coordinator) giving the welcome note and Introduction of chairman
Group Picture of Conference Participants
H.E. Dr. Özlem Ergün Ulueren (Ambassador, Embassy of Turkey), H.E. Timothy Mwaba Walamba (High Commissioner- Zambian High Commission) and Staff.
Prof. Kwodjo Asiedu, Provost of CBAS in a handshake with Mr. Eric Padura (Deputy Coorporate Affairs Manager- GNPC), Dr. Nkem Khumbah (STEM Africa Initiative-USA), Mr. Oliver Boachie (Special Assistant- MESTI)
Prof. George Obeng Adjei-Director of ORID and Prof. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences
Prof. Gordon Awandare-Director of WACCBIP and Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah former Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana
A cross section of participants at the Opening Ceremony
Prof. Kwodjo Asiedu, Provost of CBAS and MR Eric Padura (A cross section of participants at the Opening Ceremony)
Mrs. Maamie Hutchful-Nortey giving the vote of thanks
Approximately 300 participants from around the world participated in the joint Conference composed of plenary sessions, as well as round-tables on “Crystallography as vehicle to promote Science in Africa and beyond”; “Equipment for African crystallography laboratories” and “the African Synchrotron Light Source project”.
Plenary and Keynote lectures by eminent scientists such as Professor Sir Tom Blundell (University of Cambridge) Prof Eric Collet (Universite Rennes-France), and Prof Gavin Vaughan (European Synchrotron Research Facility) were organized; as well as important peripheral activities such as Lectures, exhibitions and poster sessions, along with IUCr Hands on OpenLab training workshop on X-ray diffraction by Bruker; powder diffraction files database training by the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) and workshops by the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC). Crystallography and synchrotron radiation applications from the Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biological, computational and applied sciences perspectives were among the central topics discussed, as well as the possibilities for large facilities for the African region and emerging countries. Specifically, thematic areas for discussions included; Crystallographic Database; Inorganic Materials and Industrial Minerals; Crystallography, Medicine & Life Sciences; Crystal Engineering & Structural Chemistry; Large Facilities for Emerging, Countries; Diffraction Physics & Phase Transitions.
Prof. Robert Kingsford Adaboh, Dean of the School of Physical and Mathematical Science and the LOC Chairman delivering a talk on Crystallography in Ghana
Miss Beatrice Agyapomah (Technologist at the Department of Physics-UG) assisting the Hands on Training workshop using the new D2 Phaser Xray Machine loaned by BRUKER-France.
During the conference, a poster presentation competition was organised. Miss Lois Afua Damptey, an MPhil Student of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering won the over-all best presenter prize (a £100 book voucher from the CrystalEngComm of the royal Society of Chemistry) and a students conference grant(International Centre for Diffraction Data-ICDD) .
Miss Lois Afua Damptey making her presentation to judges during the poster competition
Miss Lois Damptey (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, UG) and Mr Bright Nsolebna Jaato (Department of Chemistry, UG) making presentations during the conference
Miss Lois Afua Damptey (MPhi Student-Department of Materials Science and Engineering,CBAS, University of Ghana) by her Research poster
Miss Lois Afua Damptey receiving the best poster prize. The prize was presented by Prof. Delia Hynes- Convener of the African Crystallography Association Initiative
Dr. Thomas Blanton (Executive Director, International Centre for Diffraction Data[ICDD]), Mr Mousa Kone (Côte d’Ivoire & and ICDD awardee), Miss Lois Afua Damptey (Department of Materials Science and Engineering-University of Ghana & and ICDD awardee); Dr David Dodoo-Arhin (University of Ghana and ICDD member) and Dr. Gift Mehlana (University of Zimbabwe & ICDD member)