Heartwarming Farewell Held for ARUA Secretary-General, Emeritus Prof. Ernest Aryeetey

Emeritus Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, has concluded his term as Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). In recognition of his service to the Alliance and UG, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, who is presently the Vice-Chair of the Board of ARUA, hosted a heartwarming send-off event in his honour.

With support from the Director and staff of the Institute for Statistical, Social & Economic Research (ISSER), the occasion was also used to welcome the new ARUA Secretary-General, Prof. John Gyapong, a former UG Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, who takes over from Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey.

This significant event brought together the management of the University of Ghana, colleagues and friends of Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey and Prof. Gyapong to celebrate the contributions made to advancing collaborations and research among ARUA universities.

Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chair of the Board of ARUA, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, was full of praise for Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey for his sterling leadership, which she mentioned was hinged on his humility and integrity. 

In her words, Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey is “a man of ideas as gigantic as his stature… recognising difficulties but unfazed by them… A perpetual optimist who chooses to focus on opportunities rather than difficulties.”

Before presenting a cake to Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey, Prof. Amfo expressed her elation that Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey had served UG, Ghana and ARUA with distinction and was bowing out when the applause was the loudest, holding his shoulders high for decades of excellent service. 

The Vice-Chancellor also proposed a toast to honour Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey, wishing him good health and a restful retirement, acknowledging his immense contributions to academia.

For his part, the Chair of the ARUA Board and Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, Prof. Sizwe Mabizela, in his telecast farewell message, paid tribute to Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey’s personal passion, commitment and dedication to research excellence on the continent, describing him as a great source of inspiration. 

He noted that Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey remains an “embodiment of humility, integrity and selfless service… representing the best and the finest on the continent.”

Goodwill messages were also shared from various stakeholders of the ARUA network, all of whom paid glowing tribute to Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey. They also wished the new ARUA Secretary-General, Prof. John Gyapong, success in his role in advancing research on the continent, as the member universities strive to achieve research impact.

Following the delivery of the goodwill messages, Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey was joined by his wife, Prof. (Mrs.) Ellen Bortei-Doku Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Pro Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, Director of ISSER Prof. Peter Quartey and the new ARUA Secretary-General Prof. John Gyapong to cut the cake presented to him.

Several other presentations from various groups were made to Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey in recognition of his outstanding contributions to ARUA and the broader academic community.

The evening event was animated by the Immigration Band (Bravo Team), which provided good music for the lovely occasion. 

His was a life in academia well lived and dedicated to shaping and training young impact and change makers in Africa and beyond. The entire University community expresses heartfelt gratitude to Emeritus Prof. Aryeetey and wishes him a fulfilling and restful retirement.