Steps in Doing Health Research in Ghana (pp 131-139). In: A Gateway to Biomedical Research in Africa. Takafira Mduluza (Ed.)

Abstract

Ghana is a developing country located in West Africa. It has a population of about 20 million people. The majority (over 60%) of the people live in rural areas surviving on agro-based economy, mainly subsistence farming, which is labour intensive. The government of Ghana is doing its best to achieve the millennium development goals. However, diseases, poverty and lack of education continue to work against the developmental efforts of the state. To combat diseases afflicting the people of Ghana requires research, both basic and applied. The research agenda is divided into two broad areas – Basic Health Research and Applied Health Research. However, the MoH as an executive arm of Government health policy formulation concentrates more on applied health research leaving basic research to other Institutions like the Universities and private health related industries, especially in the area of product development.