On Thursday, 11th September 2025, the Council of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), led by the President of the Academy, Emerita Professor Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, FGA, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, at the Ministry of Education in Accra.
The Minister welcomed the delegation and commended the Academy for its role as a thought leader in national discourse, assuring the Council of the Ministry’s unwavering support. He encouraged GAAS to remain steadfast in championing education policy, strengthening research, and advancing national development.
In her remarks, Emerita Professor Quakyi provided an overview of the Academy’s mandate, achievements, and ongoing work in promoting scholarship in the arts and sciences for national progress. She reaffirmed GAAS’s commitment to collaborate with the Ministry in areas that impact education and research.
Emerita Professor Quakyi enumerated several activities organized by the Academy during the course of the year, as well as upcoming ones. She highlighted the last Public Forum in June 2025, which focused on the topic “Galamsey Revisited.” This examination of the economic, environmental, health, and institutional impacts of illegal mining proposed policy measures, including the repeal of L.I. 2462, to safeguard forest reserves and water bodies. She added that the Academy continues to host such impactful lectures, forums, and dialogues throughout the year, creating space for evidence-based reflection on issues of national and global importance.
The Minister pledged to support the Academy’s annual budget with Five Million Cedis (GHC5,000,000) through the GETFund. He therefore requested the Academy to present a list of activities on which the support would be expended to enable the Ministry to take action.
The Minister received briefings on three projects: the GAAS-IAP Science and Technology Project (STC) from Prof. James Ephraim, Project Team leader and Chairperson of the Education Chapter, the Carnegie Higher Education Project from Emerita Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh, Vice President of the Arts Section and the Project Lead; and the GAAS- COCOBOD Project from Prof. Lade Worsonu, the Project Lead and former Honorary Treasurer.
The Minister promised to have broader engagements with GAAS on a proposed “Science Week” and requested the Academy to liaise with the Director in charge of Higher Education, Dr Emmanuel Newman, on the way forward.
The GAAS delegation included:
- Emerita Professor Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, FGA – President
- Emerita Professor Takyiwaa Manuh, FGA – Vice President for Arts
- Professor Alfred Oteng Yeboah, FGA – Vice President for Science
- Professor George Obeng Adjei, FGA – Honorary Secretary
- Professor James Ephraim, FGA – Chairman, Education Chapter
- Professor Adams Bodomo, FGA, – Council Member
- Professor Lade Wosornu, FGA, – Former Honorary Treasurer
- Professor Aba Andam, FGA, – Former President of GAAS
They were accompanied by some staff of the Academy, including Mr Daniel Hormeku (Executive Secretary), Ms Matilda Dennis (Communications Officer), and Mrs Patience Amedofu (Accounts Officer).
Also present from the Ministry of Education were Mrs Lydia Essuah, the newly appointed Chief Director, Dr Emmanuel Newman, Director for Higher Education, Ms Munira Karim, Head of Public Relations at the ministry and other senior officials.
