Bridging the gap: Introducing neuroscience to Ghana

Although recent advances in neuroscience are helping to advance many areas of human life, there exists a tremendous disparity in neuroscience education and research between Africa and more developed continents including Europe and North America. This is perhaps partly due to underdeveloped student interests and the lack of local training opportunities in many parts of the African continent, examples of which can be found in Ghana. Ghana lacks competences in fundamental neuroscience education and research, and neurological health care. There is currently no neuroscience degree programme offered in the country, meaning that talented students have no local avenues to be trained in brain sciences. These shortcomings present serious challenges to the West African nation.