Eleven renowned Ghanaian scholars were yesterday inducted as fellows of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), during the Academy’s 2021 Founder’s Week celebration held in Accra.
The newly inductees who had played significant roles in their various professions, as well as contributed immensely in national development were the immediate past Chief Justice, Ms Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo, and Vice – Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo.
Others are an Akan Language Educator, Professor Kofi Agyekum; an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, Martin Odei Ajei; a Professor of African Languages and Literature, Adams Bonlacher Bodomo; Economist, Professor Peter Quartey; Director-General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Professor Victor Kwame Agyeman.
The rest are the Head of Department of Clinical Pathology at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Professor Regina Appiah-Opong; Professor of Global Non-Communicable Disease, Peter Richter Lamptey; Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Ghana, Eric Sampane-Donkor and a Computer Scientist, Dr Nii Narku Quaynor.
The President of GAAS, Professor Samuel Kofi Sefa-Dedeh, said GAAS had become a cradle of multi-disciplinary knowledge, where members come to further enrich the academy and themselves.
“You are now walking in the path other Ghanaian citizens, who demonstrated excellence in their fields of study or vocation, have walked. You are warmly welcomed to take your rightful place and contribute to make the academy relevant to our society,” he said.
He added that Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) was collaborating with some Fellows of the Ghana GAAS, led by Prof. Ladé Wosornu, to conduct research into components of cocoa which could aid in the treatment of some life-threatening diseases globally.
Professor Sefa-Dedeh explained that the research forms part of COCOBOD’s programme to increase the usage for cocoa beyond the confectionery and cosmetic industries, and thereby expand the global market for cocoa.
“This is an example of collaboration between industry and the science community to enable the conduct of research and development to drive innovation. Such collaboration is important to finding solutions to challenges which hamper our progress towards industrialisation and the expansion of Ghana’s economy,” he said.