Ghana and the African Union Advance Landmark Encyclopaedia Africana Volume IV on Africa’s Scientific Heritage

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Press Release

Group Picture of Participants at the Workshop, Peduase, Ghana

Peduase, Ghana | 10–12 June 2026. The Encyclopaedia Africana Project (EAP) Secretariat, under the auspices of the Government of Ghana and in partnership with the African Union (AU), has successfully concluded the Encyclopaedia Africana Volume IV Production Workshop, held from 10–12 June 2026 at Peduase, Ghana.

Held under the theme “Africa’s Contribution to Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI),” the three-day workshop brought together members of the Pan-African Scientific Committee (PASC), leading scholars, scientists, subject-matter experts, editors, and representatives of the African Union to establish the scientific, editorial, and operational framework for the production of the fourth volume of the Encyclopaedia Africana.

Revitalising a Pan-African Vision
Established in Accra in 1962 by the Government of Ghana under the aegis of the Ghana Academy of Sciences, the Encyclopaedia Africana Project was conceived to document authentic knowledge about Africa and its peoples from African perspectives. In 1967, the project evolved into an inter-African initiative with Ghana serving as host to its Secretariat.

Following the adoption of the Encyclopaedia Africana Project as an African Union flagship initiative under Agenda 2063 through AU Decision 732 in 2019, Ghana and the African Union have intensified efforts to revitalise the project as a continental platform for preserving and promoting Africa’s intellectual and cultural heritage.

In 2024, the African Union Commission and the Government of Ghana inaugurated the 12-member Pan-African Scientific Committee, chaired by Prof. Emeritus Ivan Addae-Mensah, to lead the technical work toward the publication of Volume IV.

Documenting Africa’s Scientific Legacy
Volume IV seeks to provide an authoritative account of Africa’s enduring contributions to science, technology, engineering, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, environmental stewardship, and innovation from antiquity to the present day.

The publication aims to correct historical distortions, promote African-centred scholarship, preserve indigenous knowledge systems, and serve as a valuable educational resource for future generations while advancing the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Key Outcomes of the Production Workshop
Participants unanimously adopted a Pan-African, interdisciplinary conceptual framework grounded in African-centred knowledge production, inclusivity, scientific rigour, evidence-based scholarship, and the recognition of indigenous knowledge systems.

The workshop also approved the major thematic areas that will guide Volume IV, including:

Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Mathematical Sciences
Astronomy and Cosmology
Metallurgy and Iron Technology
Medicinal Sciences and Pharmacology
Traditional and Indigenous Medical Systems
Engineering and Architecture
Agriculture, Food Systems and Environmental Sciences
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
Education and Knowledge Systems
Creative Industries and Innovation

Participants further emphasised that Africa’s long-standing traditions of invention, craftsmanship, problem-solving, and practical knowledge are integral components of scientific and technological advancement and deserve equal recognition alongside contemporary innovations.

Strong Editorial and Quality Assurance Framework
To ensure scholarly excellence, the workshop adopted a comprehensive editorial and quality-assurance framework that incorporated rigorous peer review, fact-checking, methodological consistency, continental representation, and accessibility for diverse audiences.

Contributors will be drawn from universities, research institutions, scientific organisations, industry, innovation ecosystems, and indigenous knowledge communities across Africa and the African Diaspora.

Supporting Ghana’s Educational Transformation
The Encyclopaedia Africana Volume IV is expected to make a significant contribution to Ghana’s education sector by providing evidence-based content to support curriculum reforms in African history of science, STEM education, indigenous technologies, entrepreneurship, and African knowledge systems.

The project will also create new opportunities for universities, researchers, graduate students, innovators, and traditional knowledge holders while strengthening historical awareness, national identity, and cultural confidence among young Africans.

Production Timeline
The workshop adopted a comprehensive production roadmap with contributor mobilisation scheduled for July–August 2026, content development through December 2026, peer review during 2027, manuscript preparation by the end of 2027, production in the first half of 2028, and publication of Volume IV expected during the second half of 2028.

A Landmark Continental Initiative
The successful conclusion of the Production Workshop marks a major milestone in the revitalisation of the Encyclopaedia Africana Project and reinforces Ghana’s longstanding leadership in preserving and promoting Africa’s intellectual heritage.

Once completed, Volume IV will stand as a landmark reference work documenting Africa’s remarkable contributions to science, technology, and innovation, providing future generations with an authoritative account of the continent’s role in advancing human knowledge and civilisation.

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