The University of Cape Coast Alumni Association in the USA (UCCAA USA) has paid a courtesy call to Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency Victor Emmanuel Smith.
Led by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Ambassador to congratulate him and formally inform him of the arrival of the University of Cape Coast delegation for the commemoration of the 9th anniversary of the University of Cape Coast Alumni Association USA.
The anniversary celebration, which is on the theme “Stronger Together: Revitalizing Alumni Networks through General Collaboration and Digital Enablement,” has Her Excellency Prof. Edu Buandoh as the guest speaker and , the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, as the guest of honour.
The programme will include strategic planning meetings with UCCAA-USA executives, the Ghana delegation, and UCCAA-Canada. It will also feature interactive sessions with UCCAA-USA members, as part of the USA Chapter Congress.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Edu Buandoh noted that the UCC Alumni Association remained a strong body committed to promoting the welfare of its members across various fields, while also advancing the development and image of the University. She expressed optimism that the visit would strengthen cooperation and foster a cordial relationship between the association and the Embassy.
For his part, Ambassador Victor Smith said he was impressed by the visit and explained that the Embassy, over the past nine months, had focused on an intensive search for investors to support Ghana’s economic growth. He noted that discussions were ongoing with several Ghanaian business owners and academics in the United States who have the capacity and resources to invest and contribute to Ghana’s development.
He added that responses from interactions with these identified groups had been positive, and expressed appreciation for the visit. Ambassador Smith further said he looked forward to a warm working relationship with the Alumni Association in the near future.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aheto, also expressed excitement at the opportunity to engage the ambassador. He described UCC as a major force in Ghana’s higher education landscape with significant potential for expansion and collaboration. “With a student population of about 80,000, UCC offers a fertile base for investment and partnerships with the corporate sector” he added.
Prof. Aheto appealed to Ambassador Smith to consider UCC as a key point of investor collaboration particularly in addressing the University’s accommodation deficit. He also requested support for the upgrading and expansion of lecture theatres, as well as investments in the area of health.
The UCC delegation included the Senior Assistant Registrar at the office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mr Alfred Ghartey; President of the Alumni Association, Samuel Danso Akoto Esq.; and Mrs. Grace Akosua Akyeabea Sackey of the Directorate of Public Affairs. Also present were some members of UCCAA-USA.
Source: Documentation and Information Section, UCC.
