The three-day conference which would end on Thursday is aimed at disseminating the findings of the project from the country’s research, identify and discuss common themes emerging from the findings and their implications for policy.

It would also identify questions arising for future research and review the organisation of GETSPA’s work so far and discuss the future of the emerging GETSPA network.

GETSPA is a multi-country research, policy advocacy, capacity and network building with a focus on social policy in Africa, hosted by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) at the University of Ghana.

The project began in January 2021 with funding from the Open Society Initiatives of Africa with a focus on 10 country clusters spanning West Africa, East, Central, North, Southern and Lusophone Africa.

Speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, Prof Samuel Ntewusu, Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana (UG) said the project was critical to the African continent and commended members of the GETSPA network for their hard work and commitment.

He indicated that the goals of GETSPA were driven by an African perspective which aligned with the founding vision of the Institute ofAfrican Studies and its operations today.

Prof. Ntewusu underscored that Dr Kwame Nkrumah on the opening of the Institute of African Studies cautioned researchers in the institute and the African continent to make their specific contribution to the advancement of knowledge through research and dissemination about the people and culture of Africa through past history and contemporary problems.

“The institute which is multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary, carries out this mission by engaging in the regeneration of Africa and her people through knowledge production, dissemination, application and preservation,” he stated.

“In very concrete terms, GETSPA upholds the vision of the Institute of African Studies, where the project is housed, through the privileging of Afrocentric scholarship in realising its goal and aims,” he added.

Expressing his excitement at participants of the conference being Africans based in 31 countries of the continent, Prof Ntewusu stated that he was hopeful that the outcomes of the GETSPA Project would produce cutting-edge knowledge on social policy in Africa.

“It will be relevant in shaping the development and implementation of social policies on the continent,” he added.

Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost, College of Humanities, UG, said the project was a compelling and timely initiative that promised to transform social policymaking to improve the well-being of individuals, families and communities on the continent.

He noted that the College of Humanities recognised the fundamental role of international networks in deepening the country’s research footprints beyond its borders.

“GETSPA contributes in a significant way to driving the international networks promotion objective of the College, and by extension, that of the university,” he added.

Prof. Ofori said it was for that reason the college was committed and in full support of the goals of the project.