| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in November 1959 by government instrument of incorporation. Its objective was to bring together the highest level of intellectuals, experts and professionals in the country to constitute a ‘Think Tank' in the arts and sciences to enable it advise the Government of Ghana and other relevant bodies on issues of importance to national development. The objective of the Academy, then, remains largely the same today, albeit, with varying degrees of emphasis on certain aspects of organization and execution of activities.
One of the objectives is to promote the study, the extension and the dissemination of knowledge in all the Arts and Sciences. The dissemination of knowledge is done mainly through public lectures such as the annual Lectures in the Humanities and the Sciences, J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures, Founder's Week Lectures etc. |
| In recent times, following an exercise in self-appraisal, the Academy has broadened the scope of its public fora to include colloquia, press conferences, and roundtable discussions. These encounters were meant to reduce the ceremonial tone of the Academy's public events, and thereby foster closer links between the Academy and the public. Roundtable events also enable Fellows of the Academy as well as members of the general public to articulate their views on contemporary events. It is hoped that through such events, the Academy will provide platforms for stimulating engagements on topical issues that will impact on policy, and enhance Ghana's democratic development.
In the years ahead, the Academy sees challenges it is likely to face as:
- Broadening the base of its membership
- Attracting a new breed of active, dynamic and committed fellows with the requisite intellectual capacity to advance the objects and goals of the Academy
- In particular addressing the development issues facing Ghana and Africa generally
- Injecting substantial resources to support the work of the Academy, especially research
- Refurbishing the image of the Academy
- Building the capacity of its secretariat and strengthening its ties with various institutions of learning in the country.
It is the Academy's fervent hope that these targets will be attained hand-in-hand with the good people of Ghana, who have co-operated with the Academy over the years.
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