The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has made a passionate call to humanities and social sciences scholars across the African continent to break out of academic silos and ensure their research directly informs public policy, classroom curricula, and societal growth.
Addressing distinguished academics, researchers, and creative practitioners at the University of Ghana, Legon, during the opening ceremony of the 2026 African Humanities Association (AHA) Biennial Conference on Tuesday, Dr Apaak stressed that the value of academic inquiry lies in its ability to address the lived realities and aspirations of African communities.
Describing his presence at the gathering as a personal homecoming, the former Legon lecturer and archaeologist reflected on his triple perspective as a scholar formed by academic inquiry, an educator, and a researcher.
He noted that the humanities possess the unique capacity to restore depth and historical context to human experience, particularly at a time of rapid social and technological transformation.
“An education system attentive to the histories, languages, and cultural experiences of its people is better placed to build identity, belonging, and shared responsibility,” Dr Apaak stated.
“Young Africans who understand their own societies and intellectual traditions can engage the wider world with confidence.”
He urged delegates to take their findings far beyond academic journals and conference proceedings, emphasizing the need for active engagement with classrooms, cultural institutions, and policy tables.
Tracing the evolution of the African Humanities Association from its origins under the African Humanities Program in 2008 to its formal establishment by African scholars in Abuja in 2020, the Deputy Minister praised the body as a model of continental ownership and intellectual maturity.
“An initiative that had enjoyed external support became an institution conceived, governed, and sustained by African scholars, in response to Africa’s own intellectual priorities,” he remarked, commending the Association for launching its new journal, African Humanities Inquiry, alongside the conference.
Dr Apaak also underscored the critical role of mentorship in sustaining Africa’s intellectual future, appealing to established academics to remain generous with their expertise and open doors for early-career researchers.
The conference, themed “Engaging Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts Scholarship in Africa: Milestones and Aspirations”, brought together prominent academic figures, including the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and President of the AHA, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo; Keynote Speaker and Kwame Nkrumah Chair in African Studies, Professor Ato Quayson; Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Professor Awo Mana Asiedu; and Emeritus Professor Kwesi Yankah.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana