From September 26-27, a U.S. Embassy Public Affairs team traveled to the city of Kumasi to participate in a series of programs to promote education in partnership with Ghanaians. The team consisted of Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II, Cultural Affairs Specialist Maya Parker, Cultural Affairs Assistant Aisha Nartey, and Kumasi based Education USA Advisor Margaret Nyarko.
On September 26, the U.S. Embassy team visited the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where they were welcomed by Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, university staff, and Fulbright Scholars Dr. Elaine Patterson and Dr. Christopher Larbie. Mr. Quiroz thanked the Pro Vice Chancellor for KNUST’s close partnership and support for exchange programs, both U.S. government sponsored and private, with American colleges and universities. “In the halls of academia, a new Ghana is rising to be led by the students educated in this and other Ghanaian institutions. The United States is honored to enjoy a strong partnership with KNUST and we hope to strengthen it even further,” he said.
Visiting Kumasi Academy for an EducationUSA advising session, the U.S. Embassy team addressed over 1,000 students on opportunities available for study at American colleges and universities. Ms. Nartey also highlighted opportunities for Ghanaian youth to live and study in American high schools and communities for a year through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, adding that American youth also spend a year studying at Ghanaian high schools and living with host families under the program. School Headmaster, the Reverend Sylvester Osei Owusu, is a 2005 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program alumnus. He told students of how his U.S. academic exchange program experience greatly supported his professional development, and exhorted his students to consider applying for one of our programs.
On September 27, the U.S. Embassy team participated in the launching ceremony of the Spelling Bee’s 13th edition hosted at the Manhyia Palace. In his remarks, Mr. Quiroz lauded the vision and strong partnerships forged by founder and CEO Eugenia Tachie-Menson and her team to promote education through the Spelling Bee competition. “This special program transforms lives and instills self-confidence and a love for learning in each student participant. Since 2011, the United States of America has been proud to be one of the sponsors for youth from the Northern, Eastern, Ashanti, and Brong Ahafo regions to participate in the Spelling Bee. A quality education offers children the tools needed to succeed in life, and enables them to offer their immense talents and contributions to promote development in Ghana as in all nations,” said Mr. Quiroz.
To learn more about our exchange programs, please see the links below:
- Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program: http://www.yesprograms.org
- Article about Mustapha Sadick, a Kennedy-Lugar YES Program alumnus: https://www.yesprograms.org/stories/my-journey-begins
- Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA): https://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/fulbright-teaching-excellence-and-achievement-program
