The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) convened a day-long Council Retreat on Wednesday, 16th April 2025, at the GAAS Secretariat in Accra. The retreat brought together Council Members and Heads of Units from the Secretariat for a purposeful exchange of ideas, institutional updates, and forward-looking discussions to strengthen the Academy’s operations and amplify its impact.
The session opened with a presentation by President Emerita, Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi (FGA), who provided an overview of the functions of Council Members and Principal Officers of the Academy. She also outlined her vision for GAAS through a 5-Pillar Plan and reviewed the GAAS 5-Year Strategic Plan, offering a comprehensive roadmap for growth and institutional renewal. Council then accepted the proposal to have a committee set up to review the existing strategic plan of the Academy, which is about to elapse and propose the way forward with a new plan.
The Honorary Secretary, Prof. George Obeng Adjei (FGA), led a session focused on deepening understanding of the roles and responsibilities of senior members within the Secretariat. Heads of Units took turns to share presentations that shed light on their operational activities, resource needs, and ongoing contributions to the Academy’s mandate. This exchange fostered stronger alignment and mutual understanding between the Council and the Secretariat staff.
Executive Secretary, Mr. Daniel Hormeku, briefed participants on the Academy’s recent legal victory in its court case with Royal Mak Hotel and Catering Services Ltd., and outlined the implications for facility management going forward.
Further discussions focused on GAAS’s external engagements, specifically the status of existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and strategic directions for developing new and impactful partnerships.
The retreat ended with Council Members lauding the retreat’s transparent, collaborative, and enriching format, and affirmed their continued support for the Secretariat in delivering the Academy’s mandate.
