GAAS Report of Activities for 2023

In 2023, the Academy held its 3 flagship programmes as follows:

1. B. Danquah Memorial Lectures on the theme “African Politics and the Mystical Realm: Religion and Governance in Ghana” by Rev. Professor J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, FGA and President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, from 20 – 22 February 2023.
2. Public Forum on the theme “The Impact of Modern Technology and Artificial Intelligence on Education Delivery” from 05 – 07 June 2023.
3. Ephraim Amu Memorial Lecture on the topic “The Ethics of Nation-Building: Perspective from the Legon Tradition of Philosophy” by Martin Odei Ajei, FGA and Associate Professor of Philosophy, on 21 September 2023.
4. Founder’s Week Symposium on the theme “International Order in a Changing World: Implications for Rules, Institutions, Norms, Alliances, and Ghana” from 15 – 16 November 2023.
5. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture on the topic “Realising the Ecosystem Integrity of the Ghanaian Environment for National Development” by Prof. Alfred A. Oteng-Yeboah, FGA and Professor of Botany, on 17 November 2023.

The Academy organized 4 policy dialogues under its Higher Education Policy Project as follows:

1. Policy Dialogue on “The Conversion of Polytechnics to Technical Universities in Ghana” on 28 March 2023. Background paper presented by Dr. George Afeti, TVET Consultant.
2. Policy Dialogue on “Financing Higher Education in Ghana: Implications for Equity and Sustainability” on 6 September 2023. Background paper presented by Dr Justice Ray Achoanya Ayam, Consultant.
3. Policy Dialogue on “Making the GETFund Fit for Purpose” on 31 October 2023. Background paper presented by Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey and Kofi Osei-Frimpong, Consultants.
4. Policy Dialogue on “Managing Ghana’s Public Universities in a New Age” on 19 December 2023. Presentation of the background paper by Prof. Joseph Roland Atsu Ayee, FGA, Consultant.

Three Inaugural Lectures were also organized as follows:

1. Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Contribution of African Popular Music Studies to Universities” by Prof. John Collins, FGA, Professor of Music, on 25 May 2023.
2. Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Significance of Terrestrial Impact Structures: A Case Study of the Lake Bosumtwi Impact Crater, Ghana” by Prof. Sylvester K. Danuor, FGA, Professor of Physics, on 22 June 2023.
3. Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Blood Sugar – A Social and Scientific Discourse on its Impact on our Health” by Prof. Mrs Sarah Darkwa, FGA, Professor of Food Science, on 19 October 2023.

Other events held during the year included the following:

1. Inauguration of GAAS Council 2023-2024 and handing over to incoming President Prof. Kofi O. Nti, FGA, on 15 February 2023.
2. Evening of Remembrance for the late Dr. Letitia E. Obeng, FGA and Past President of the Academy, on 16 May 2023.
3. Annual Lecture in the Sciences on the topic “Food and Public Health” by Prof. Amos K. Laar, FGA and Professor of Public Health Nutritionist, on 5 October 2023.
4. Asante-Opoku-Reindorf Lecture on the topic “African Agency Home and Abroad: Beyond the Human Factor?” by Rev. Prof. Pashington Obeng, CEO, Pan African Heritage World Museum, on 1 and 3 November 2023. This is a collaboration between GAAS and the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Akropong.
5. Induction of Newly Elected Fellows Prof. Samuel G. Obeng (Linguistics), Prof. Joseph A. Yaro (Geography) and Prof. Alex B. Asiedu (Geography), on 14 November 2023.
6. Press Conference by GAAS to release a Statement on Illegal Mining (Link to the statement | PFD) on 15 December 2023.

Representation of GAAS at Inter-Academy and Scientific Meetings:

1. Ghana Science Association Research Seminar and Poster Presentations on the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, Kumasi, Ghana, 8 – 9 March 2023. GAAS was represented by Prof. Aba B. Andam.
2. InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Global Meeting, Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technology, Rabat, Morocco, 15 – 17 March 2023. GAAS was represented by Prof. James H. Ephraim, FGA.
3. International Science Council, Mid-term Meeting, Capitalizing on Synergies in Science, Paris, France, 10 -12 May 2023. GAAS was represented by Prof. Alfred A. Oteng-Yeboah, FGA.
4. Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) Board Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, 25 May 2023. GAAS was represented by Emerita Prof. Isabella A. Quakyi, FGA.
5. International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies, Academy of Sciences of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 6 – 8 June 2023. GAAS was represented by Prof. RoseEmma Mamaa Enstua-Mensah, FGA.