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Emeritus Professor Isabella Quakyi Assumes GAAS Presidency

Emeritus Professor Isabella Quakye Assumes GAAS Presidency

A distinguished Ghanaian immunologist and parasitologist, renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to malaria research and public health, Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, FGA, has officially assumed the role of President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) for the 2025- and 2026-year term. She takes over from the immediate past President, Prof. Opoku Nti, FGA who served as President of the Academy over the previous two years. The handing over ceremony was held at the GAAS Secretariat on January 14, 2025, in Accra.

Prof. Nti thanked the outgoing council for their support and dedication during his tenure which enabled the Academy advice the government and other stakeholders on critical national issues, contributing significantly to Ghana’s national development. He cited the National Honors Awards in December 2024 for GAAS’ role in containing the Covid 19 pandemic, Ebola, the fight against illegal Mining (galamsey) among others as a testament of GAAS’ role in using Arts and Sciences to advance National Development. 

As the new president of GAAS, Emerita Prof. Quakyi said her mission is to reposition GAAS as a globally recognized institution for intellectual excellence, committed to innovation, inclusivity, and societal impact. Her strategic focus includes leveraging technology, financial sustainability, stakeholder engagement, gender equity, and strengthened educational partnerships.

During its inception in 1959, GAAS had 20 founding Fellows, comprising 13 men and one woman. Currently at its 66th year, the Academy has grown to 149 Fellows, with 121 men and 28 women. While this growth is commendable, Emerita Professor Quakyi said there was the need to address gender disparities within the Academy, calling for increased representation of women in the Arts and Sciences.

Emeritus Professor Isabella Quakyi praised the female fellows of GAAS for their trailblazing achievements, noting that many had shattered glass ceilings to reach remarkable heights and possessed the potential to accomplish even more. She also took the opportunity to commend Her Excellency, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, a distinguished Fellow of the Academy, for making history as the first female Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

Under Emerita Professor Quakyi’s leadership, GAAS will continue to pursue its strategic plan, established for 2020–2025, which serves as a detailed roadmap to solidify the Academy’s relevance and excellence. The plan aims to position GAAS as an indispensable institution in shaping Ghana’s intellectual, cultural, and developmental future. “Our mission remains to inspire future generations and to address critical developmental challenges through thought leadership, policy advocacy, and strategic initiatives,” she affirmed.

The ceremony was a grand gathering of intellectuals and dignitaries, bringing together current and past Presidents of the Academy, Fellows, council members, members of academia, and other notable guests.

The principal officers for the 2025-2026 term include:

  1. Vice President, Sciences: Prof. Alfred Apau Oteng-Yeboah
    • Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.
  2. Vice President, Arts: Emerita Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh
    • Vice Chairperson, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC); Former Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon.
  3. Honorary Secretary: Prof. George Obeng Adjei
    • A professor of pediatric clinical pharmacology and Director of the Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School.
  4. Treasurer: Prof. Peter Quartey
    • A professor of development economics and Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research.

These officers are supported by the following council members:

  • Ben Ahunu: Former Honorary Secretary, Professor of Animal Science; Founding Executive Member of the Ghana Society of Animal Production; Former Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon; Former Member of the Governing Council of the University of Ghana.
  • Kofi O. Nti: Immediate Past President of GAAS and a distinguished Ghanaian game theorist.
  • Adams B. Bodomo: Professor of Linguistics and African Studies, Chair of African Languages and Literatures at the University of Vienna, Austria; President of the International Federation of Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM); Editor of the prestigious Journal of West African Languages.
  • Grace Ofori Sarpong: A leading expert in Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering.
  • Samuel Agyei-Mensah: Professor, Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon and Visiting Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London.
  • Ace Anan Ankomah: Managing Partner at Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah, the largest private law firm in Ghana and a former lecturer at Ghana School of Law.

The new leadership of GAAS, under the visionary guidance of Emerita Professor Quakyi, is set to usher in a period of transformative growth and excellence. With a shared commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and societal impact, the Academy is poised to tackle critical challenges while inspiring future generations to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development and the global intellectual landscape.