US EMBASSY LAUNCHES 2023 EDUCATION - USA COLLEGE FAIR IN KUMASI

Report from Emmanuel ADU GYAMFI

The United States of America (USA) Embassy in Ghana on Thursday 14th September, this year, officially launched the 2023 Education - USA College Fair In Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.

It was organised by the Public Diplomacy Section of the US Embassy in Ghana, for graduates and undergraduates students in the country.

The maiden fair in Kumasi was hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and partnered by the ACE consultancy.

Cultural Affairs Officer, Laneice Brooker, in his remarks at the opening ceremony, said the College Fair features approximately 30 U.S universities and colleges.  

He noted that "We are delighted that the delegation of U.S representatives are starting their tour in Kumasi, then moving to Accra, on to Nigeria, and wrapping up in Cote d’Ivoire".

The Cultural Affairs Director stated that he was so confident that Ghana would set the bar high for the rest of the tour.

Mr Laneice Brooker indicated that American colleges and universities provide intellectually stimulating and safe environments for all their students. 

"Our universities and colleges are eager to welcome more Ghanaian students because of the diversity in both intellectual and cultural they bring to their U.S. classrooms" he emphasised.

The Cultural Affairs Director entreated the participants and organisers to help build strong people -to - people ties between Ghana and the United States. 

He said it was wonderful to see this flourishing interest on Ghanaians, who are considering studying in the U.S , and the representatives from American colleges and universities who came to West Africa, specifically Ghana to meet with prospective students.   

Mr Laneice Brooker disclosed that over the last year, Education - USA advisors from our Accra and Kumasi - based centers helped thousands of Ghanaian students apply to universities and colleges in the United States.

The students later secured admissions across hundreds of accredited institutions of higher learning, and facilitating USD$7 million in financial aid and scholarships. 

The Cultural Affairs Director said the 2022 Open Doors Report confirmed that 4,916 Ghanaians studied at U.S. colleges and universities, across all 50 States during the 2021-22 academic year.

This represents a 16% increase over the previous year and continues the long-term growth trend among Ghanaian students.

He stressed that Ghana is the second highest sender of students to the United States from Sub - Saharan Africa, only behind Nigeria. Ghana now ranks 18th in the world for sending graduate students to the United States.

"Even though Ghana was one of the few countries to see an increase in the number of students who went to the United States to study in the last academic year during the pandemic, we are not satisfied and are working to see those numbers increase even more" he stated.

Mr Laneice Brooker indicated that Africa represents the future as well as the present, and that it is in all of our interest to find ways to deepen our cooperation and one of those ways is through education.

"Today we have the opportunity to explore more of what that means, and I hope you enjoy meeting with students and admissions officers as you interact and learn more about these U.S. higher education institutions, and what they have to offer" the Cultural Affairs Director added.

He expressed gratitude to the generous hosts at KNUST and our wonderful partner at ACE Consulting for the incredible work to bring us all here today.

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