The Ambassador of Germany to Ghana, His Excellency Daniel Krull, and his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, at the Council Chamber.
Addressing the Management of KNUST, His Excellency Krull mentioned that as part of their working visit to Kumasi, they decided to take advantage of their visit to engage with the Management of KNUST to explore the potential for significant cooperation in the academic field between KNUST and German universities. The Ambassador ceased the opportunity to introduced Mr. Lutz Lienenkamper, State MP, and Former Finance Minister for North-Rhine Westphalia, as a long serving Member of Parliament (MP) with over 30 years of insight into Ghana. According to Ambassador Krull, Mr. Lienenkamper has played a crucial role in institutionalising German-Ghanaian relations and expressed his anticipation for deeper and stronger collaborations.
Mr. Lienenkamper commended the intensity of the positive relationships he has observed in Ghana during his visit, seeing it as an opportunity to foster greater connections, extending from business to academia. He highlighted the importance of aligning political decisions with academia to ensure more meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that effective partnerships always begin with conversations, recognising that collective efforts are essential. She affirmed this with proverb, 'If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others,' underscoring the necessity of collaboration in addressing humanity's challenges. She stressed KNUST's commitment to building strong partnerships, particularly, in the area of research.
The Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO), Professor Daniel Yaw Addai Duah, stressed the profound influence that a global outlook of a university holds in shaping students' perspectives. Professor Duah advocated for the adoption of comparable initiatives from Germany universities, particularly within North-Rhine Westphalia, emphasising the significance of fostering healthy competition among universities. This competition, he asserted, will spur the generation of innovative solutions to address contemporary societal challenges.
A key component of Professor Duah's advocacy was the promotion of student and faculty exchange programs, a strategic move aimed at cultivating a transformative impact on academic and cultural landscapes. By facilitating such exchange programs, universities can not only broaden their students' horizons but also foster cross-cultural collaboration, contributing to the development of well-rounded global citizens.
Also, present during the visit were the German MP and Member of the Economic Cooperation and Development for the German Parliament (Bundestag), Mr. Volman Klien; the Registrar of KNUST, Mr. Andrew Kwasi Boateng; the Dean of Quality Assurance and Planning Office, Professor Jerry John Kponyo; the University Relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe; and the Head of the Department of Publishing Studies, Dr. Ralph Nyadu-Addo.
