Some scholars who addressed issues at the 2026 MIASA conference
The Deputy German Ambassador to Ghana, Sivine Jansen, has said that the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) will continue its commitment to towards sustainable governance in Africa.
MIASA, an institute under the College of Humanities at the University of Ghana, is jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).
The 2026 MIASA Conference, themed “Transitions – Past, Present and Future of Sustainable Governance in Africa”, was held at the University of Ghana, at the conference hall of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), on June 9, 2026.
Stakeholders meet over urban planning after Accra hit by floods, transportation crisis
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, the Deputy German Ambassador shed light on how MIASA’s research funding has supported Ghanaian academics and vowed to invest further in students to ensure sustainable governance across the continent.
“I am very satisfied with the response in Ghana. Since MIASA’s inception seven years ago, we have provided a number of fellowships to researchers, including Prof Kojo, who is now the head of faculty at an institution. They have built a strong network of people who bring the best students into research and connect with German academies.
“The debate will have a Pan-African impact, shaping discussions as I expect MIASA to do. I wish centers of academic research would connect more with business and policy so the impact can feed into politics,” she said.
Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof Alfred Yawson, who spoke on behalf of the UG Vice-Chancellor, noted that he was impressed by the MIASA conference, which featured scholars from across the globe and promoted intercultural research for the advancement of education and democratic principles.
He disclosed that the university plans to make the funding feature permanent to support humanities courses and ensure the sustenance of democracy.
“It started with the preliminary phase. We are now in the main phase. Today’s event is to climax the main phase, and then we move into the final phase of the program. The beauty of it is that it has cultivated collaboration with fellows from different countries across the world. It is an intriguing setup that promotes interdisciplinary, intercultural research.
“The university sees the institute as very vibrant. Even when the funding officially ends, it will be made a permanent feature of the University of Ghana to continue promoting interdisciplinary research in the humanities, social sciences, politics, and democracy. This will help sustain democracies within Africa, strengthen scientific communities, and improve research for the benefit of the people of Africa,” he said.
The conference also featured scholars from Ghana and abroad who discussed issues relating to sustainable governance in Africa and its benefits to citizens.
MIASA serves as a hub for exchange, networking, and collaboration among leading researchers from Germany, Ghana, and around the globe.
Since its inception in 2018, fellows and participants of MIASA activities have generated valuable insights into the interplay between sustainable governance, societies, cultures, and politics in Africa and beyond.
Two rescued, one in critical condition after building collapse at Avenor
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
