Birthday Anniversaries are typically moments of pleasure and satisfaction as one reflects on good years and is surrounded by friends and family. The celebration of our 50^th anniversary is much more momentous than any individual's landmark as it seeks to begin a year-long celebration of, and reflection on 50 years in the life of a very important institution.

 

The Akans say, "Obaako nsa nso Onyame ani kata"; "lit. a single hand cannot cover God's eyes or face; or the sky or the horizon" and so our arrival at today, April 16, 2012, is really the culmination of the ideas, dreams and hard work of several people over many years—past and present staff, students, faculty, Directors and Deputy Directors, as well as our many partners.

 

As we celebrate 50 years in our life, the occasion, as well as the year-long celebration, provide us with the space in which to reflect on our relevance with each other and with our publics. I daresay that the best place to start is by referencing some of the comments made by President Kwame Nkrumah when he formally opened the Institute in October 1963, for this defines our mandate.  read more