Following a request to engage KNUST in collaboration talks through the International Programmes Office, Ghana’s Ambassador to Brazil, Her Excellency Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia led an eight-member delegation on this mission. The meeting was held at the Conference Room of the International Programmes Office Singh Guest House on Thursday, 27 July, 2023. The idea was to explore possible future educational partnerships and co-operation projects.
The other members of the delegation comprised the following: Mr. Joäo Jorge Santos, President of Palmares Cultural Foundation; Mr. Nelson Luiz Rigaud Mendes, Chief of Staff , Palmares Cultural Foundation; Mr. Walter Oliveira Pinto Junior ,Chief of Staff and Municipal Secretary of Culture and Tourism of Salvador; Mr. Rafael Lima Santos, Special Advisor to the Cabinet and Secretary of Culture of the Government of the State of Bahia; Mrs. Jamile Nascimento Machado, Coordinator of the Board of Tourism and Municipal Secretary of Culture and Tourism of Salvador; Mr. Antonio Carlos dos Santos, Vovo do Ile, President of the Afro block in Salvador, Embassy of Brazil; Counselor Luiza de Lima Horta Barbosa, Head of Cultural and Commercial Sector, Embassy of Brazil; and Ms. Edna Esi Amoh, Assistant, Cultural and Commercial Sector (Embassy of Brazil).
Mr. Santos highlighted the importance of shifting from the traditionally known skills set of Afro Brazilians from soccer and culture to include science and technology. Their research indicated that KNUST was a leading science and technology university in Africa and hence was a good partner to drive this collective effort. Ms. Barboza highlighted some of the activities of the Brazilian embassy in Ghana and alerted the university community about scholarship opportunities for young Ghanaians to study in Brazil. There was an invitation to attend a conference in Brazil to engage and develop a good partnership.
The Dean of the International Programmes Office, Prof. Daniel Y.A. Duah, welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Management of KNUST. In giving an overview of KNUST, he stated that KNUST, is a leading science and technology university in Africa and that it has been ranked the best in terms of quality education for SDG 4 by the Times Higher Education for 2023. He highlighted the importance of partnerships in the operations of institutions. He thanked Ambassador Busia and the delegation for coming over and added that KNUST has no partners in Brazil and are keen on exploring what mutual opportunities that can inure to the benefit of both parties including higher education institutions in Brazil.
Representing the Provosts of the colleges at KNUST, the following gave an overview of each college: Prof. Enoch Adjei Osekre, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Dr. Yaw Duah Boakye, College of Health Sciences; Dr. Alexander Boakye Marful, College of Art and Built Environment; Prof. Joseph Oppong Akowuah, College of Engineering; Dr. Edmund Yamba and Dr. Cyril Dziedzorm Boateng, College of Science.
Present at the meeting were Dr. Patrick Swanzy, Lecturer at the Department of Teacher Education and Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Assistant Registrar at the International Programmes Office.
