Fellows

With the exception of the Foundation Fellows, who were nominated, all Fellows of the Academy have had to be elected in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Executive Instrument of Establishment of 1963 and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Decree, 1968. In accordance with the 1968 Decree, the Fellows of the Academy shall consist of

• all persons who immediately before the commencement of the Decree were Fellows of the Academy of Sciences established by the Ghana Academy of Sciences Instrument, 1963 (E.I.5); and
• persons elected Fellows under the provisions of this Decree

The Decree further stipulates that

"Any citizen of Ghana or any person resident in Ghana who, in the opinion of the Council, has made a significant contribution to any branch of the arts or sciences may be elected a Fellow by a General Meeting of Fellows called by the President [of the Council] for that purpose…….”

Honorary Fellows

The Decree also makes provision for Honorary Fellowship as follows:

Any person of eminence in the arts or sciences, other than a citizen of Ghana, who has contributed significantly to the extension of the arts or sciences, may be elected an honorary fellow by the Council.

Modified Proposals for Election of Fellows

The guiding criterion for election to Fellowship has always been the quality of nominees' contribution to learning as evidenced by scholarly publications. As a result of this practice, the majority of Fellows have come from the country's universities and research institutions. In recent years, however, it has been argued that this procedure is too restrictive for the growth of the Academy and the realization of its objectives. It should be possible to modify the Academy's procedures to make room for men and women who have distinguished themselves in areas outside the purely academic. It has also been argued that the university circles, from which Fellows are drawn, should be widened and the disciplines more equitably represented.

In consideration of these views and others, a committee was appointed to re-consider the criteria and procedures for admission into the Academy. The committee recommended three new categories of membership.

The first category should include Ghanaians who have distinguished themselves in the following areas: industry, technology and invention; the civil service, banking and accountancy, engineering, including architecture and geodesy; the judiciary, indigenous culture, education and health, pastoral work and related duties of the clergy; and the fine arts.

The second category of Elected Fellows should include Ghanaians who have distinguished themselves in their fields of specialization but who do not necessarily possess scholarly publications.

The third category should comprise Ghanaian honorary Fellows. These will be selected from time to time by the Academy from amongst distinguished Ghanaians for their contribution in specific areas, which cannot be assessed in terms of publications. This category will constitute the local counterpart of the Academy's Honorary Fellowship.

Currently, the Academy consists of 70 fellows.
"FELLOWS OF THE GHANA ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES"
"FELLOWS OF THE GHANA ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ALPHABETICAL ORDER "