DECCMA GHANA RETREAT MEETING UPDATE (Prosper Adiku, PRUNE Ghana)

The DECCMA Ghana Retreat was held at the Aknac Hotel in East Legon, Accra from January 28 – 29, 2016. It followed the 4th DECCMA Consortium Meeting held in Southampton, UK from January 12 – 15, 2016 and which was hosted by the University of Southampton. All team members were present in addition to Kwame Daaku (Ed Carr’s student) as well as the newly-appointed officer in charge of Promoting Research into Use through Networking and Engagement (PRUNE) in Ghana for CARIAA Projects, Prosper Adiku.

In a brief introduction, Professor S.N. Codjoe, the Principal Investigator (PI) for DECCMA explained that the meeting was to provide the DECCMA Ghana Team with the opportunity to receive updates from the Work Packages following the 4th Consortium Meeting. Members who attended the Consortium meeting therefore briefed the rest of the team on discussions held, gave updates on their Work Tasks and also elaborated on planned activities for the following six months. The DECCMA students also gave updates on the status of their research activities.

Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye-Tagoe (standing) presenting updates on Work Packages 0 and 1.

The Work Packages also discussed how they can collaborate among themselves towards timely achievement of Work Tasks (WTs). There was also a break-out session to discuss details of Work Package progress with emphasis on planned activities in the Ghana case for the coming six months.

    

Work Packages 2 and 5 members during the Break-out session

The Officer in charge of Promoting Research into Use through Networking and Engagement (PRUNE) was also given the opportunity to introduce himself to the DECCMA Team and his roles to the Project. He interacted with each Work Package to understand their work plans in order to plan for or make inputs into any Research into Use (RIU) activities with emphasis on networking and engagement activities that might be relevant for the respective Work Packages. 

The Retreat ended well with members of the DECCMA Ghana Team appreciative of the opportunity for such a forum and left with renewed energy and commitment to see to the successful implementation and completion of the Project.

Participants’ Group Photograph at the Retreat