Rt. Hon. James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, has paid a working visit to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Hon. James Cleverly was welcomed by Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Director of the Institute, together with Prof. Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, University of Ghana.

Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu together with Hon. James Cleverly and Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie touring the ARL

During the visit to the Noguchi Advanced Research Laboratories, the Director explained the long standing working relationship between NMIMR and the UK Government and highlighted research currently being conducted in collaboration with various UK institutions.

The visit will strengthen this relationship and create more opportunities for increased research and human capacity development.

Hon. James Cleverly and Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie at the Genome Sequencing Lab

The high-level visit was attended by high profile personnel, including Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner to Ghana, Prof. Ian Gilbert, Head, Drug Discovery Unit, University of Dundee and Uzoamaka Gilpin, Team Leader, Health Education and Social Protection at the British High Commission.

Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu together with Hon. James Cleverly, Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie and other dignitaries touring the Institute

The visit forms part of the launch of the UK-Ghana Science, Technology & Innovation Strategy, a collaboration between the UK Government through the British High Commission and the Ghana Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.

Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu and Prof. Gordon Awandare together with other dignitaries at the launch of UK-Ghana Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy

The Institute played an important role during the development of this strategy, and contributed ideas and thoughts to include in the strategy during the stakeholder engagements.