20 American students in Ghana for 10-day educational and cultural expedition

A group of around 20 seventh-grade students from the Global Leadership Academy in West Philadelphia, US, is in Ghana for a 10-day learning expedition.

The expedition is designed to deepen their understanding of African history, culture and identity as part of their Black History Month curriculum.

The students departed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, accompanied by co-founder and civil rights school advocate Dr Naomi Johnson Booker.

In a video sighted by GhanaWeb, Dr Booker, in an interview with American-based CBS News, described the journey as a “homecoming” that connects the scholars to their ancestral roots.

Beyond the Return: 500 African-Americans arrive in Ghana

Booker, a long-time educator and activist who previously marched with Dr Martin Luther King Jr, said the trip allows students to explore key historical contexts, including Ghana’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and African heritage.

“This is like the pinnacle of what we do and where we are because going to Ghana, we're now going home, and we have gone to the Bahamas for a number of years, and we’ve seen the point of entry. Now, we're going to see the Door of No Return. So, the scholars will see the connection between home and where they brought us into the Americas,” she said at the send-off.

Also speaking before departure, facilitator Dr Evans said the expedition is part of the academy’s broader mission to cultivate global citizenship.

“Each year, our global mission is to ensure that the scholars of West Philadelphia see the world. By the time they leave us in the eighth grade, they are global-minded, they are global citizens, and they understand that their passport will take them anywhere,” she said.

During the trip, students will visit the University of Ghana, some local schools and cultural sites, and interact with peers in Ghana to broaden their cultural perspectives.

The group is expected to return to the United States after completing the immersive programme.

Watch the videos below:

A group of 7th-grade students from Global Leadership Academy in West Philadelphia departed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, for a 10-day learning expedition to Ghana.

About 20 select students, accompanied by school co-founder Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker, are exploring African… pic.twitter.com/MsccTyURgN

— 𝐀𝐒𝐊 (@askghmedia) February 20, 2026

🇺🇸🇬🇭 7th graders from West Philadelphia are heading to Ghana as part of their academic program to connect classroom learning with real-life history. pic.twitter.com/deO0mBj0jl

— BIG KAY ™ (@OfficialBigkay) February 21, 2026