Meeting was called to order at 1:20: p.m. by Chair Jean Allman. Jean (former President) informed the members that our President, David Owusu Ansah could not make it to the meeting/conference this year because the expected date for delivery of their twin-children was any moment of the conference period. Consequently, the President had asked her to serve on his behalf for the meeting.

• Jean asked for a volunteer to take the minutes for the day. Baffour Takyi volunteered and became the recorder of the minutes.
• Jean moved that the minutes of the Columbus Meeting be approved. It was seconded by Takyiwaa-Manuh. Minutes approved by show of hands.
• Mr. Owen of Reston Enterprises (based at Takyiman, Ghana) informed the meeting about the death of Dr. David Mike Warrens, a notable anthropologist who had done extensive research on health and other issues in Brong Ahafo region. He asked the Council to remember the deceased in their deliberations and prayers.
• Jean and Takyi-Manuh informed the Council about the change in venue for the GSC-sponsored Durbar by Asanteman Union of Chicago for the next day. They encouraged all present to participate at the function.

Reports

• England/Europe: David Killingray gave an overview of the financial situation of the London/European chapter. He indicated that after balancing income and expense account, they still had a balance of £285; expenditure on postage £19.50. Once again, David suggested we put the money to good use, as it was not yielding any interest now.
• US Activities: Larry Yarak reported on the Ghana Studies Web Page and gave a short report on articles received so far for the association journal, Ghana Studies. Larry gave a short account of the progress so far and indicated the first issue will be out pretty soon -- will be dated 1998. (See full report on Ghana Studies later in this minutes.)
• Short Report (Ghana Studies Journal): Larry apologized for the slow pace in getting the first issue out. To date, 8-10 articles had been submitted, 2 revised and re-submitted papers had also been received. Suggested that we put together a special issue on the Ghanaian Diaspora organized by Takyiwaa-Manu this year. Thanked all reviewers. Larry called on article reviews for the journal to be timely in returning material. This is critical to developing a reputation for Ghana Studies as a reliable publication.

Ghana Studies Web Page

• Larry indicated he will be willing to add members web pages to the site. However, he was specific as to the type of links he was particularly interested in -- contemporary issues about Ghana.

The Chair's Report

Jean -- spokesperson for the President gave her report about the status of the Council and our current financial situation.

• She indicated that our membership is growing -- over 250 members at present, with most of the growth coming from increased enrollments from Ghana.
• US Expenditures --- $636.00 grant to the national Archives; $500.00 -- cost of Durbar for the 1998 ASA conference. Total balance left in GSC account was reported at $1,295.00. GSC was sorry not to have been able to support a graduate student to this year's meeting.
• Colonial Service Office (C.S.O.) files that has been the focus of the Ghana National Archives handlisting Project was initially supported at $931. The extra gift of $636 given by GSC last summer brings our total support to the National Archives to $1567.
• Members were reminded that Newsletter #11 went out in Spring 1998 and that those who did not receive their copies should check our official web site.
• Members were also informed that Professor Ivor Wilks, GSC member, was award ASA Distinguished Scholar of the year. We all congratulated Prof. Wilks.
• Reminded members to remember those colleagues we lost during the year -- 3 in all.
• Ghana Studies Council (GCS) members were informed of the 2 GSC-sponsored panels for the November 1998 conference. These were "Contemporary Ghanaian Immigration," and "Identity Formation in Gold Coast (Ghana)."
• On behalf of the president, those individuals who have been of great help to association by holding consultations with the president so as to help him perform his duties in the past year were thanked. Among the individuals specifically mentioned were Jean Allman, Takyiwaa-Manuh, Larry, and Joe Amoako.
• Members were invited to submit articles and news items for the Newsletter and the journal Ghana Studies.

Items for Discussion

(a) Standing Committee

• Jean, Akyeampong and many others suggested that we set up a standing committee to approve and disapprove financial transactions, etc. during the year since the main group meets only once in a year. The members agreed that this was a good idea. Four people were elected -- Takyiwaa-Manu, Stephen Miescher, Gareth Austen (UK), with David Owusu-Ansah (President acting as an ex-officio member).

(b) Ghana Studies Journal: Full Report

• Larry Yarak (Editor of Ghana Studies) asked members to submit some of their work to the Journal for consideration. He said he actually received two papers the previous week from Ghana, which was quite encouraging. (To send publication information for Larry's consideration, address to Texas A&M University, Department of History, Collage Station, TX 77843.)
• He also said that he was still looking for a logo for the journal and was still open for suggestions.
• Kojo Arthur suggested we use Ghana Cultural symbols from the Old parliament House, others suggested the map of Ghana. The issues were debated and some, including Takyiwaa-Manu and Baffour Takyi were not supportive of the map or symbols idea. It was agreed that anyone interested in the "cover issue" should e-mail Larry who, with the help of the Standing Committee, will decide the logo for the journal.
• On subscription, David Killingray, and David Henige suggested we discuss the issue of cost and the mode of payment. David suggested that those of us in the "Diaspora" pay slightly more so that those in Ghana could afford to buy the journal.
• Others suggested a reduced rate for Ghana. We all agreed that at least we should send some copies of the journals to the University Libraries in Ghana free, but we did not agree on the best way to fund the journal.
• Some, including Larry suggested a flat rate of example $18.00. While others proposed that the journal be distributed freely and the cost covered by an increased membership dues, there were those who feared a resulting lose of members.
• Larry was to send subscription forms to members for their subscriptions.
• Jean finally suggested that we discuss the issues further when the first issue comes out. The Standing Committee was charged with looking at the issue again. Once again, all members were encouraged to support the journal -- financially and through submissions and prompt reviews.

Some Selected Exchanges --Journal:

• David Killingary: What will be the mode of subscription to the journal? Let's pay more to help defray the cost for those in Ghana!
• Larry: I prefer a flat rate -- maybe about $18.00. Can't we subscribe as part of our annual dues as done by other journals?
• Jean: I'm afraid this approach may scare off people. We may loose membership. When is the first issue coming out?
• Larry: Very soon, but it will be dated 1998. The Next issue should be a special volume -- edited from the papers presented at this year's session on Immigrants, plus perhaps other articles.
• Baffor Takyi and David Henige: That volume will be dated 1999 and will come out by Dec. 1999.
• Takyiwaa-Manuh: I have my concerns about the long period before that volume comes out.
• Larry & Henige: It can come out any time within the year and not necessarily the end of the year.

Other Business

• Jean Allman expressed concerned that despite GSC funding for the last printing of the Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana a couple of years ago, there was no indication that journal has been activated. [See Per Harnaes' entry on the Transactions in this Newsletter.
• Akyeampong indicated that he and a number of colleagues have set up a scholarship fund in the History Department (Legon) in memory of the late Prof. Isaac Tuffour.
• Akyeampong: A committee was formed in Ghana to plan a commemoration of the 1896-1900 arrest of chiefs and the Yaa Asantewaa War. The Asantehene was keen on the idea and appointed a committee to study the issues. It was reported that when Prof. Adu Boahen left Ghana, the theme of the conference appears to have been "ethnicitized". As a result, he was not happy with how things are going now. The encouraging news, however was that, Manhyia had given permission to the editing and publication of two manuscripts -- Prempeh I and Prempeh II.

Panels for 1999 ASA meeting in Philadelphia

• Jean asked members to think about the topics and sessions for next year's conference to be held in Philadelphia. After some deliberations, members agreed on a number of topics: Structural Adjustment (including Socio-economic issues in Ghana); Religion in Ghana; Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade; The Fourth Republic; Education and Social Change; and, Ghana into year 2000.
• Jean gave a deadline of March 1 or 15^th for the work to be completed so as to forward the information to ASA. The following people volunteered to coordinate and find participants for the suggested panels: a) Kwadwo Konadu Agyeman, University of Akron, OH: Structural Adjustment (e-mail: kkonadu@uakron.edu) b) Kojo Arthur, Marshall College, West-Virginia, Education (e-mail: arthur@marshall.edu) c) Mary Dillard, UCLA: The Slave Trade (e-mail: medillar@ucla.edu) d) Birgit Meyer, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands: Religion (e-mail: meyer@pscw.uva.nl).

Other Matters

• For research purposes, Takyiwaa-Manu suggested that the Council supports a project that can catalogue the various B.A. and M.A. theses/long essays at the various Universities in Ghana.
• Kojo Arthur, however, briefed the Council about the problems he is currently facing with the authorities at Legon about a similar proposal he put forward. He indicated that the lack of prompt action from Legon officials at Balme Library means it is possible we will face the same impediments if we wanted to do such a project.
• Kwamina Panford, however, felt with his "contacts" back home, it may be doable. Kwamina reported that he has found a cost-effective way (I mean free) to send books to Balme Library (Legon). Requested books -- fairly recent volumes to be sent to him for trans-shipment.
• Agyeman-Konadu was concerned about the appearance that we are focusing primarily on the Legon campus. Members suggested that this is not the case and that the approach is just the beginning as it could be replicated in the other institutions. Jean suggested that we think of this as a proposal for next year. That ended this discussion.
• Jean suggested that members should try to float up their ideas in the Council's Newsletter. She encouraged us all to write short pieces and notes since the Newsletter is a major means of communication between the members.
• (Fifty organization members were present at the Chicago ASA.). The meeting came to a close around 3 PM.