The West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) is a professional membership organization for research managers and administrators in West Africa. WARIMA promotes best research and innovation management practice through its members drawn from leading higher education institutions in the region. 

The 17th WARIMA Annual Workshops and Conference was held from May 11th to 14th, 2026, at the West Africa College of Physicians Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference theme was “Compliance = Quality Research”. The conference brought together research managers, academics, policymakers, and institutional leaders from across West Africa and beyond, providing a strategic platform to strengthen research governance and enhance compliance systems. 

In his opening remarks, WARIMA’s President, Dembo Kanteh, underscored the importance of continuous capacity development in advancing research excellence and building a resilient research management ecosystem across the region. He noted that over the past two decades, WARIMA has grown through collective effort, strategic partnerships.

A statement from Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, Executive Director at the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) preceded plenary sessions, and a keynote speech,  titled “Navigating African Partnerships, Compliance in International Research Collaborations [PAN-RIMA]” The speech was insightful, stressing the critical role of regional collaboration in improving research management and fortifying institutional systems across Africa to promote high-quality research. 

The University of Ghana (UG) was represented by a twelve-member delegation at the 2026 conference session. Research Development Officers (RDOs) and a research administrator from the Research and Innovation Directorate, comprised of Angelina Appiah-Kubi, Beatrice Sakyibea Biney-Nyamekye, Deborah Akyeampon, Forgive Kwashie Agboada, Isabella Rockson, Nana Oye Akuffo, Patience Okpoti, Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah Rose Margaret Kanyoke and three staff members from the College of Health Sciences. There were four oral presentations during concurrent sessions and two poster presentations by UG staff. 

The presentation delivered by Beatrice S. Biney-Nyamekye, titled “Framework for Risk Assessment and Compliance in Pre-Award Research Administration: ​A Case Study from the University of Ghana” outlined a structured framework for risk assessment and compliance in pre-award research administration.  It highlighted the strategic role of pre-award processes in aligning proposals with institutional priorities while managing compliance, financial, and operational risks.  The framework emphasized early risk identification, mitigation planning, and compliance validation embedded within workflows.  It demonstrated how standardized tools, defined roles, and digital systems enhance efficiency, accountability, and proposal quality, ultimately strengthening institutional competitiveness and fostering a culture of compliance.

Beatrice Nyamekye presenting

Mrs. Angelina Appiah-Kubi and Mrs. Patience Okpoti presented a paper on “Strengthening Ethics and Regulatory Standards for Research in Africa, using the University of Ghana’s Ethics Committee for the Humanities (ECH) as a case study”. The presentation highlighted ECH’s contributions to promoting ethical research practices, protecting research participants, and ensuring regulatory compliance. It also discussed achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of ethics committees in enhancing research integrity and governance.

Panel Discussion

Mrs. Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah delivered an oral presentation titled "Essential First Steps for New Research Managers in African Universities." Drawing from her personal career path, she shared the operational challenges and developmental milestones encountered during her first two years of navigating the research management field. Her presentation introduced a professional development model, mapping out three critical pillars required for early-career growth: Governance Knowledge, Technical Competencies and Relational Intelligence.

Sylvia A. Sarbah presenting

Ms. Deborah Akyeampon’s presentation on “Strengthening Research Integrity through Institutional Due Diligence and Compliance Systems” highlighted compliance as a strategic tool for building trust, credibility, and donor confidence. Using UG and George Washingon University as case studies, it illustrates the value of structured systems and clear research lifecycles. Key insights highlight institutional oversight, standard processes, and effective risk management. The presentation captured the essence of maintaining resilient systems and continuous improvement to sustain research integrity.

Debbie Acheampong Presenting

Mr. Forgive Kwashie Agboada’s poster presentation  depicts “Continuous Professional Development through Peer Mentorship: Building Communities of Practice Among Research Managers in the West Africa Sub-Region.” It highlighted the importance of peer mentorship and Communities of Practice (CoPs) as sustainable approaches for strengthening professional development, collaboration, and institutional capacity among research managers in West Africa. His poster received the award for  Second-Best Poster Presentation in recognition of its contribution to advancing research management capacity development in the region.

Mr Kwashie explaining poster presentation

A poster presentation from the College of Health Sciences (UG), developed by Kofi Asare-Odei, Isabella Rockson and Nana Oye examined the decentralisation of research administration at the University of Ghana. The poster is based on a study which evaluated how faculty members perceive the transition from a centralized research management system to a localized model. This highlights how evolving institutional structures in low- and middle-income countries can enhance global competitiveness by supporting academic research activities.

The pre-conference workshops took place on May 11th and 12th, featuring three concurrent sessions , where speakers delivered presentations on the following themes;

• Horizon Europe Framework Programme,
• Research Operations & Project Management,
• Strategic Leadership & Career Development,
• Good Financial Grant Practices, and,
• Impact Planning & Monitoring and Evaluation

These sessions equipped participants with practical tools and frameworks to strengthen institutional research systems and improve compliance with global standards.

A key outcome of the session on Building a Sustainable Compliance Culture and Mentorship & Continuous Development of Research Managers was the setting up of a new regional Mentorship Framework Development (MFD) working group, for which Sylvia A. Sarbah was named Founding Secretary and Patience Okpoti was co-opted as a member. 

Representatives from member associations from Central African Research and Innovation Management Association (CARIMA), Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), Eastern African Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA) and Northern African Research and Innovation Management Association (NARIMA), forming the formidable PAN-RIMA Network, were present to support their counterparts at the programme.

The participation of the University of Ghana delegation at the 17th WARIMA Conference highlights UG’s strong commitment to research excellence, and professional development. The contributions of research administrators showcased best practice, and  reinforces UG’s position as a leader in research management in Africa. The conference underscored a central message: robust compliance systems are fundamental to achieving high-quality, credible, and impactful research in an increasingly complex global research landscape.