Abstract

Animal research ethics governance entails national and international systems of administration and supervision that have been set for the independent review of research proposals that are both ethically and methodologically sound. Globally, countries have established research ethics governance systems to promote the humane use of animals during scientific studies through the establishment of Animal Research Ethics Committees (AREC). This presentation will share outcomes of a study that was aimed at assessing the existing Animal Research Ethics governance systems and practices in Ghana and the experiences of Animal Research Ethics Committee Administrators in ensuring ethical conduct of research using animals. The presentation will highlight the current governance system for animal research in Ghana and what the positive and negative experiences of research managers/administrators who administer the committees have been in ensuring ethical use of animals for research. This presentation will enable conference participants understand better, the animal research ethics context in Africa with specific reference to Ghana and the peculiar experiences of their counterparts in developing countries with Ghana as a case.