Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences

The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) is a learned society for the arts and sciences based in Accra, Ghana. The institution was founded in November 1959 by Kwame Nkrumah with the aim to promote the pursuit, advancement and dissemination of knowledge in all branches of the sciences and the humanities.[1]

Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Logo
AbbreviationGAAS
Formation1959 (1959)
TypeLearned society
PurposeAdvancement and dissemination of knowledge in Ghana
Location
  • P.O.Box KD 1178, Kanda - Accra, Ghana
Region served
Ghana
Official language
English
President
Joy Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu
Main organ
General Assembly
WebsiteGAAS

History

The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences began its life as the Ghana Academy of Learning,[2] and was formally opened on 27 November 1959 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the Great Hall of the University College of Ghana, who became its first president along with Nkrumah. It was incorporated by an Act of Parliament, the first of its kind in post-independent Africa.[1] It was merged with the National Research Council in 1963 to become the Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1968 it was again split into (a) The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is a purely learned society, and (b) The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which undertakes research of an applied nature related to national needs.[2]

Mission

The mission of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences is to encourage the creation, acquisition, dissemination and utilization of knowledge for national development through the promotion of learning.[3]

Presidents

The following individuals have served as President of the Academy:[4]

PresidentTenure of Office
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh1959–1961
Kwame Nkrumah1961–1966
Nii Amaa Ollennu1969–1972
E. A. Boateng1973–1976
Charles Odamtten Easmon1977–1980
F. G. T. Torto1981–1982
Kwesi Dickson1983–1986
Emmanuel Evans-Anfom1987–1990
Christian Baëta1991–1992
D. A. Bekoe1993–1996
J. H. Kwabena Nketia1997–1998
Fred T. Sai1999–2002
S. K. B. Asante2003–2006
Letitia Obeng2007–2008
R. F. Amonoo2011–2014
Francis Allotey2011–2014
Akilagpa Sawyerr2015–2016
Aba Andam2016–2019
Joy Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu2019–

Notable Fellows

References
  1. "The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , The National Academies.
  2. "Detailed information: Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences" Archived 2015-09-22 at the Wayback Machine , International Council for Science.
  3. "About" Archived 2015-05-25 at the Wayback Machine , Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
  4. "Past Presidents". Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.


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