Accra, Nov. 23, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday asked the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) to support development to promote national integration.

He said Ghana would require the input of very credible and dynamic think-tank to spearhead discussions and researches into critical issues that have confronted the nation since independence.

President Kufuor said they would also be required to propose strategies that would promote good governance and total development of the nation, especially in the context of the competitive globalise economy.

He was speaking at a dinner dance hosted to climax activities marking the 44th Founder's Week celebrations of GAAS at the Castle gardens Osu with the Western Diamonds Band in attendance.

The theme for the celebrations was "National Integration" and some of the topics discussed included "The Constitutional and Legal Framework for National Integration," "Who is a Ghanaian? Historical Perspective".

Other topics discussed were "Marginalisation, Religious and Ethnic Tolerance," "The Constitution, Governance and Political Tolerance," "National Integration and Nation Building" and "The Genesis of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences".

President Kufuor said national think-tank by nature should be natural allies of government, researching, generating, testing and refining ideas to inform government policies.

"To be acceptable to both government and society, their ultimate interest should be the public good. Nations that have developed and survived very traumatic experiences count among their national assets very vibrant think-tanks", he said.

President Kufuor said obviously, like many other institutions in Ghana, the effectiveness of the Academy had been limited by the political and economic fortunes of the country and in spite of the constraints the Academy has managed to survive and made some contributions.

He commended the Academy for its decision to reach out to the public by disseminating its findings more widely and also form closer relationship with other public and private sector organisations, civil society and begun working with some of Ghana's developmental partners and other international think-tanks. President Kufuor was optimistic that the new partnership between government and the Academy would last and promote national development and total integration of the Ghanaian society.

He said to enable the country benefit from their rich experiences; ideas and invaluable advice; there should be regular interaction between them and the government to make the Academy functional and dynamic.

President Kufuor assured the Academy, that efforts would be made to secure more resources and an accommodation for their activities, as well as their representation on University Councils.

Nana Dr Susubribi Krobea Asante, President of the Academy said it was established to encourage the creation, acquisition, dissemination and utilization of knowledge for national development through the promotion of learning.

He gave the assurance that their intellectual resources, expertise and diverse experiences were always available to government and other decision-makers. Nana Asante said to diversify and energise the Academy, they had decided to admit younger dynamic and committed candidates who had the requisite intellectual prowess to execute objectives of the Academy.

"The Academy is also actively looking beyond academic or university circles to identify possible candidates with the requisite intellectual calibre who may not necessarily have a long list of publications to join them"' he added.