On Friday, February 14, 2025, Her Excellency Mariana Gonçalves Madeira, the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), at the University’s Council Chamber.
Her Excellency Madeira was warmly received by the Vice Chancellor supported by a Team from KNUST comprising Dr. Charles Nsiah, Finance Officer; Professor Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Professor Daniel Y. A. Duah, Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO); Professor Christian Koranteng, Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment; Professor Frederick Nimoh, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; Professor Kojo Agyapong Afrifa, Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources; Professor Akwasi Acheampong, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies; Rev. Dr. Victor Quagraine, Head of Department of Architecture; Professor Clifford Amoako, Head of the Department of Planning; Professor Bernard Fei-Baffoe, Department of Environmental Science; Dr. Frank Baffour-Ata, Department of Environmental Science; and Dr. Patrick Swanzy, Department of Teacher Education.
Professor Daniel Duah provided context for the visit, recalling a 2023 cultural exchange facilitated by the Embassy of Brazil in Ghana, which saw a Brazilian delegation visit KNUST. He expressed enthusiasm for the Ambassador’s visit, which aims to explore concrete partnership opportunities in key areas such as Agriculture and Natural Resources, Built Environment, Climate and Environmental Science, and Education. He highlighted Dr. Swanzy’s ongoing collaboration with Brazilian counterparts and emphasized KNUST’s eagerness to establish its first institutional partnership in Brazil.
Her Excellency Madeira expressed gratitude for the warm reception and echoed the importance of strengthening ties between Ghana and Brazil. She highlighted shared interests, such as cocoa production, and emphasized the potential for collaborative research in agriculture. The Ambassador also mentioned Brazil’s Federal University of Palavra as a potential partner and pledged to share contacts of other Brazilian universities aligned with KNUST’s focus areas.
Professor Mrs. Dickson welcomed the Ambassador and reaffirmed KNUST’s commitment to building global partnerships. She expressed excitement about the opportunity to collaborate with Brazilian universities, which would further strengthen the bond between Ghana and Brazil. The Vice-Chancellor concluded by assuring the Ambassador of KNUST’s readiness to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships.
Also present at the meeting were Ms. Ernestine Oheneba Danso, Collaborations and Partnerships Officer, and Mr. Attah-Nyame Essampong, Visibility and Communications Officer.
This visit marks a significant step toward fostering academic and research collaborations between KNUST and Brazilian institutions, paving the way for impactful partnerships in the years to come.
