Ghana’s Ivor Agyeman-Duah to Deliver Keynote Address at IAC Conference In US
Ghanaian historian and development specialist Dr Ivor Agyeman-Duah will deliver the keynote address at the 15th annual conference of the US-based Initiative in Art and Culture (IAC).
The event scheduled for next week will draw from the Ghanaian’s multiple expertise as a central bank historian, and museum economist involved in the restitution and return of ancient gold ornaments aside been a consultant of multilateral projects involving the World Bank.
His keynote address, titled “Ghana and Gold: Path of the Antill,” will lead into major panel discussions under the theme: “Retaining Greater Value In-Country: Strategic Approaches”.
The panel will include former Senior Advisor of Office of Sanctions Coordination at the US Department of State, Brad Brooks-Rubin; Senior Director of Newmont, Shari Cittleman; and Head of Legal Operations at AngloGold Ashanti Lucian Simmons.
The Director of the Research Centre for Responsible Mining at the University of Sao Paolo, Jassi Munanka; and the Editor-in-Chief of the leading journal on gemstone pricing of Gemworld International, Brecken Brandstater are also on the list.
The role of gold in Ghana’s economic development—as well as its historical significance as a cultural commodity—will be central to the gathering. Held at the Bohemian National Hall in New York City, the event is themed “Eye on the Prize” and highlights Ghana’s global stature in gold production. Part of the three-day event is also dubbed “Ghana and Gold.”
The congregants will be gold investors, institutions of assayers and bullion generators, non-governmental regulators from The World Jewelry Confederation, The World Gold Council, the World Bank, Newmont, one of the world’s largest auctioneers of currency and gemstone fine art in Texas, Heritage Auctions, AngloGold Ashanti, Rio Grande of New Mexico and universities with interest in mining.
It is at a time of huge world resurgence in gold investment by nations and banks on the security of assets.
The conference theme according to the founding President of IAC, Dr. Lisa Koenigsberg, was thoughtfully chosen for “as the precious metals, gemstones, and jewellery sectors face upheaval, whether political, military, economic, or technologic, we must keep our “eye on the prize,” a flourishing and unhabituated planet on which the centrality of heritage and artisanry is recognized.”
The IAC will also present its Award for the Eight Responsible Practices in Jewellery Leadership and the Fifth Award for Extraordinary Contributions to the Diamond and Jewellery Business, among other honours.
The President of Rio Grande, one of the world’s leading and oldest jewellery companies in New Mexico, Arien Gessner says, the IAC creates “the meaningful progress in the jewellery industry and starts with open dialogue purposeful collaboration. The Gold and Diamond Conference provides a vital forum where ideas are sparked, relationships are strengthened and the future of our craft is shaped”.
