His Excellency, Professor Amos Sawyer, former President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my name is Yao Graham.

I am the Coordinator of Third World Network-Africa, one of the institutions organising this event. It is a real pleasure to welcome all of you on behalf of the organisers of this event, where we are all gathered here today to celebrate a friend, a comrade, a source of inspiration, Aki to all of us. We've gathered today to have this public event under the theme, "Celebrating a life of academic excellence, public service, thought leadership and activism". The idea of Celebrating Aki's public life and contributions started some time last year and went through various conceptions before we settled on this format. I would like to pay tribute to the original group of people who initiated this idea. The key persons are our Chairperson today, Professor Emeritus Takyiwaa Manuh, Professor Horace Campbell, the most recent occupant of the Kwame Nkrumah Chair of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legan, Dr. Willy Mutunga, former Chief Justice of Kenya and Professor Issa Shivji of Tanzania.

Willy Mutunga and Issa knew Aki as students when he was teaching in Dar Es Salam and Horace also knew him from East Africa. Takyiwaa and I are also Dr. Yao Graham Coordinator, Third World Network-Africa Aki's former students. The group that initiated the celebration of Aki@80 felt that it is better to celebrate someone who has been so inspirational, so influential while he is still alive than wait and write exaggerated tributes when he dies. I am really glad that we have been able to come this far and to finally launch today, the two days of public lectures and photo exhibition which is around you. We are really pleased that you have joined us to celebrate Aki's life and public work. Unfortunately, because of the winds outside, the exhibition has had to be brought in. But when there is a pause, maybe at the end of the event all of you please go and see it. It is not very detailed, but it is sufficiently representative of some of the passages of Aki's life.

Before I introduce the Chairperson for the day, let me acknowledge the contributions of various individuals and institutions which have made this event possible. In addition to my own organisation, Third World Network, Africa, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Akunu Dake and his organisation, Heritage Development. Akunu has really been a primary organiser, he brought his vast experience as an event organizer to bear, as one of Aki's old comrades he has worked selflessly to make this event possible. Two organisations whose boards Aki chairs - Star Ghana Foundation and the Ghana Oil and Gas Inclusive Growth (GOGIG) Programme are supporting this event. Mr. Larry Addo, a good friend of Aki's, has also supported this event. There is also Mr. Benji Kent who made the short film on Aki that we shall view later today. Mr. Amaakine Amartefio put together the photo exhibition. There is also the Institute for Democratic Governance IDEG, which has also been an important contributor and then the Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa, (CODESRIA), has also supported this event. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, Dr. Godwin Murunga, who came all the way from Dakar to join us in this celebration. The Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana has also supported this event. The Ghana Dance Ensemble from the Institute is present and welcomed Aki in true Ga "gome" style and ushered him into the hall. I also want to thank our host institution, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, who generously provided this venue as their contribution to the organisation of the event which honours one of its past Presidents. Unfortunately, Professor Issa Shivji, who currently is the Director of the Nyerere Resource Center, Dr. Willy Mutunga and Professor Horace Campbell, who teaches at Syracuse University in New York have not been able to join us. Issa and Horace however sent short messages which I would like to read to you.

Issa said: "I came to know Aki as a young student when he was a young lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam. I cannot say we struck a chord then as we found ourselves on different sides of the ideological fence. As the years passed, we matured, our ideas matured and our relationship deepened as we carried forward progressive social and Pan Africanist ideas forged in the crucible of struggle on our two respective campuses, the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra and the University of Dar es Salam at the Hill. May the bonds of comradeship outlive us both."

Horace on his part says: "This is a short note of solidarity from the heart of Babylon. Aki has been a steady force in the long struggles for dignity and self-determination. I'm sorry that I cannot be there in the flesh but I am there in spirit and I'm positive that the gathering and reasoning will bring its own energy to inspire a new generation to carry forward the work of struggles for Africa's redemption. Aluta Continua", Horace.