Accra — In a major advancement for COMSATS science diplomacy, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, met with H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of COMSATS. The meeting took place at Jubilee House in Accra and included senior Ghanaian officials such as H.E. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah serves as the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology. Alongside him, Madam Suweibatu Adam holds the position of Chief Director at MEST. In addition, Prof. Paul Pinnock Bosu leads as the Director General of CSIR.
Ambassador Zakaria led a four-member delegation from the COMSATS Secretariat. He expressed gratitude for Ghana’s leadership and consistent support. Ghana has remained a founding member and Chair since 2012.
He also paid tribute to the visionary who conceived the idea of COMSATS. In addition, he acknowledged Ghana’s role in promoting regional cooperation. He praised Ghana’s efforts toward advancing sustainable development.
During the meeting, Ambassador Zakaria presented updates on COMSATS’ recent achievements. These included the launch of an ISO-certified Nanotechnology Lab, the development of indigenous Electric Vehicle (EV) technology that meets international standards, and the expansion of postgraduate scholarships. He emphasized COMSATS’ commitment to collaborative research, capacity-building programs, and technology-driven solutions tailored to Ghana’s national priorities.
To further strengthen COMSATS science diplomacy, the delegation proposed support in key sectors such as environment, transport, energy, and higher education. They also offered expertise in Genomic Sequencing and TeleHealth to enhance Ghana’s healthcare and innovation capabilities.
The discussion also covered preparations for the upcoming COMSATS General Meeting in Ghana, strategies to expand the Commission’s membership, and the need for increased resource allocation to support emerging technologies. President Mahama praised COMSATS as a vital intergovernmental organization and reaffirmed Ghana’s full support. He encouraged deeper cooperation among Member States and emphasized the importance of science and innovation in driving sustainable development.
In addition to the presidential meeting, Ambassador Zakaria held separate sessions with MEST and CSIR leadership. These engagements produced several tangible outcomes and reinforced COMSATS’ mission to foster inclusive growth across the Global South.
This visit marked a key milestone in advancing COMSATS science diplomacy, showcasing the organization’s role in leveraging science and technology for global collaboration.
