Professor Frederick Ato Armah, FGA, an expert in environmental and sustainability science, has called for a bold rethinking of Ghana’s approach to illegal artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM), popularly known as galamsey.
GAAS
The GAAS Public Forum is one of the flagship programmes of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), convened to facilitate evidence-based dialogue on critical national issues. The 2025 edition, held from 2nd – 4th June 2025 at the GAAS Auditorium in Accra, focused on the theme “Galamsey Revisited”, examining the complex effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment, health, economy, and institutions.
28 May: Ghana’s Food Waste Exceeds Global Average—Prof. Marian Nkansah (FGA) Calls for Urgent Action
Ghana’s average food waste stands at 84 kilograms per person each year—exceeding the global average of 74 kilograms (UNEP, 2024)—and poses serious environmental, economic, and public health concerns. This concern was raised by Prof. Marian Asantewah Nkansah, FGA, an Environmental Chemist and Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, during a public engagement to mark World Health Day. The event was organised by Communications Initiatives for Change (CIC) – Meatless Monday Ghana, under the leadership of Mr. Emmanuel Fiagbey. CIC is affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs, Baltimore, USA. The programme took place on Monday, 29th April 2025, at the Cedi Conference Room of the University of Ghana.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) proudly celebrates two of its distinguished Fellows—Emeritus Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe (FGA) and Professor Gordon A. Awandare (FGA)—who were honoured at the 2025 Millennium Excellence Awards for their outstanding contributions to science, education, and national development.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) hosted an Inaugural Lecture on the theme “Harnessing Technology for Transformative Monitoring and Evaluation: A Framework for Sustainable Development.” The lecture was delivered by Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu, FGA, a renowned scholar in governance and public policy. He explored how digital tools can be leveraged to enhance monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems in ways that improve governance, transparency, and service delivery. The event was held at the GAAS Secretariat in Accra on Thursday, 8th May 2025.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) participated in the launch of the 2024 Annual Report of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) on Tuesday, 29th April 2025, at the British Council, Accra. GAAS was represented by Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi (President), Prof. Obeng Adjei (Honorary Secretary), and Mr. Daniel Hormeku (Executive Secretary).
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 Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) successfully held a two-day workshop on motivating higher education reforms in Ghana from April 6–7, 2025, at the Peduase Valley Resort. The workshop forms part of a GAAS project funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which aims to influence national policy through research-based recommendations.
Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr (FGA), renowned Ghanaian academic and former President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, was honoured on 10th April 2025 at the 10th Annual Conference of the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) in Dakar. He received the inaugural edition of a landmark award celebrating leadership and advocacy in advancing research and education across the continent. The award, which now bears his name, was created to recognize his exceptional contributions to higher education policy and developing digital research infrastructure in Africa. His legacy continues to shape academic and scientific progress across the region.