Midterm Conference: Sustainable Governance in a Time of Global Flux: Issues, Concepts and Future Directions
The Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) is dedicated to the issue of “Sustainable governance” in an interdisciplinary perspective. It is based on a collaboration between the University of Ghana and four German partners and aims at making African thinking increasingly relevant in academic debates. The Institute is jointly sponsored by the German Federal Ministry ... Read more
Public Lecture: Changing Mortuary and Funeral Economy and the Politics of Prestige in Northwest Ghana, Speaker: Prof. Isidore Lobnibe (Western Oregon University)
Abstract n Africa more generally, funerals have been shown to bring together members of the extended family to renew and reaffirm their individual membership within the larger family and to also compete for social prestige. In Northern Ghana, the past few decades have witnessed dramatic changes in funerary and mortuary institutions because of changing political ... Read more
Public Lecture: From the African University we no longer want, to the one we will unavoidably build, Speaker: Abdorahmane Seck (Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis)
Abstract:From China to Africa, passing through Europe... are we not all wise? do we not all dance and sing? do we, indisputably, take care of ourselves, then? Taking up this simple common sense, I draw the two objectives that I intend to achieve in this presentation. Firstly, to draw a critical and epistemological reflection on the possible meaning, possibilities and virtues of the academy's knowledge in the context of African realities. Secondly, and consequently, to ... Read more
Public Lecture: Petroleum Driven Land Grab; Threat to Peasant Livelihood? Speaker: Jones Ebenezer Osei (Akenten Appiah-Menka University)
Abstract: This study conducted in the Western region of Ghana, specifically Ellembelle District which is a hub of Ghana’s oil and gas activities and industries, critically looked at the gaps and overlaps in the land transfer deal from the communities to the oil companies in terms of the level of participatory land administration used for ... Read more
Poetography Workshop with Stone Karim Mohamad (MIASA Artist in Residence)
Stone Karim Mohamad is a poet, photographer, and also a well-known spoken-word artist in Cameroon and Germany. He splits his time between Yaoundé, Buea and Stuttgart. He is currently artist in residence at MIASA, Univ. of Ghana.This workshop is comprised of two one-hour sessions, which will be offered on Tuesday, 17 October 2023, and Wednesday, 18 ... Read more
Public Lecture: African cities and the Sustainable Development Goals: Political Settlement Analysis of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana; Speaker: Emmanuel Yeboah-Assiamah (University of Ghana)
MIASA Conference Room, 7th November 2023 Abstract: The role of politics in the enforcement of SDG 11 cannot be overemphasized. This goal is focused on cities, with targets to enhance access to basic services and safe, affordable housing, improve slums, increase public transportation, encourage inclusive and sustainable urbanization, safeguard cultural and natural heritage, lower the ... Read more
Public Lecture: Elections in the context of digitalization in Benin: Issues and challenges for people in illiteracy, Speaker: Issifou Abou Moumouni (University of Parakou/ University of Bayreuth/LASDEL)
Abstract: At the end of the 2010s, Benin embarked on digitalizing the public services, which began with the instalment of the permanent computerized electoral register. This initiative has gained momentum in recent years, with the creation, from 2020 onwards, of numerous platforms to offer almost all public services. Since then, digitalization seems to be affecting ... Read more
Policy Conference: Accelerating Africa’s economic transformation towards shared prosperity and sustainability
Venue: ISSER Conference Centre, University of Ghana, 2023 Africa’s economic development is at the cross-roads. The 20 pre-pandemic years have been – for some parts of Africa – the most transformative since independence. Yet, there is a long way to go. First, the transformation needs to regain its momentum to lead to sustained increases in ... Read more
Conference: Sustainable Regional Peacebuilding in Africa: Practices and Disconnects
Convenors: Interdisciplinary Fellow Group on Sustainable Regional Peacebuilding (IFG 9) Programme African regional organizations like the African Union (AU), ECOWAS and IGAD are increasingly important actors in resolving conflicts and building peace on the continent. In so doing, these organizations follow the aim of not only addressing the most immediate challenges to peace and security on ... Read more
Conference: The Role of Traditional Institutions in Promoting Sustainable Peace in Africa
Abstract Africa has the reputation of being the continent most prone to conflict, whether intra-commu-nity, inter-community or inter-state. These African conflicts differ according to their intensity, duration and territorial extension, as well as their nature. We observe both inter- and intra-state conflicts, armed and unarmed conflicts, conflicts linked to natural resources and ethnic conflicts. In ... Read more
Public Lecture: Negotiating LPG in urban transportation: Taxi drivers stepping on the gas in Accra and Bobo-Dioulasso; Speakers: Hold Kanazoé & Édith Nabos
Abstract: The use of LPG by collective transport actors is becoming increasingly widespread in many African cities. Moving beyond strict geographical and economic approaches to transport and mobility, our talk, based on ethnographic research in Accra and Bobo-Dioulasso, explores the way in which taxi drivers navigate their paths by transforming their cars, which goes well ... Read more
DEMO-CRAZY: Art installation, talk and poetography with Stone Karim Mohamad (Artist in Residence)
Information Stone Karim Mohamad is a poet, photographer, and also a well-known spoken-word artist in Cameroon and Germany. He splits his time between Yaoundé, Buea and Stuttgart. He is currently Artist in residence at MIASA, University of Ghana.
