Graduates advised to support ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, has urged alumni of Ghanaian universities to support the “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda being pursued by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and his government.

This call was made, on Saturday 25th May 2018, at a dinner dance held to commemorate the second anniversary of University of Cape Coast alumni association in the United States held at Ramada BWI / Arundel Mills hotel in Hanover, Maryland. Speaking at the function, a representative of the ambassador, Mr. Eric Boateng, who also doubles as the Political Officer at the Ghana embassy in Washington D.C. advised the old students to support the program by contributing in various means. This, according to him, could be achieved by organizing group trips back to Ghana, to offer services with their acquired expertise, in sectors of the country that lack these essential services.

The ambassador challenged alumni at the gathering to pick up from where our patriotic forefathers left off from building the country and carry it on their shoulders until Ghana sees success.

Outlining plans of the association in the next five years, the national president of the University of Cape Coast alumni association, Professor Kobina Armoo, asked all members to support the group’s vision as a way of giving back to the university that has made them who they are. He mentioned that the association intends to organize homecoming trips to their alma mater and run activities and programs that will impact the university and the five villages in the catchment area of the university.

A project to procure audiovisual equipment for the large lecture halls of the university was launched at the dinner dance. This project, which is intended to enhance teaching and learning on campus, will provide large screens, computers, projectors and their accessories.

Solidarity messages were delivered by alumni associations of University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the United States, and the University of Cape Coast Alumni Association in Canada.

At a panel discussion on the theme “Building a stronger partnership between alumni and other stakeholders,” panelists looked at various ways by which faculty and staff, alumni and the university community could collaborate to bring about a symbiotic relationship to the benefit of the university.

Panelists agreed on the need for alumni to be in constant touch with their alma mater and be able to give the needed help when appropriate. This could be done when the association strengthens itself.

Several students who spoke to this reporter during the symposium stressed the importance for alumni to pull resources together to help their alma mater. This, they believe, will enable the university to achieve its vision of becoming a university that is strongly positioned, with worldwide acclaim.