The International Students Association (ISA) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has held the third edition of its annual Cultural Festival to celebrate the diversity and heritage of the University's international community.
Held under the theme, “Celebrating Our Heritage,” the festival provided a platform for students from different countries to celebrate their identities, share cultural experiences and promote greater understanding and integration within the KNUST community.
The event featured a parade of African national flags and a food exhibition showcasing culinary traditions from across the continent.
Students from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini participated in the celebration.
President of ISA-KNUST, Divine Jaja, said the festival was more than a celebration, describing it as an opportunity to reflect on the identities, histories and traditions that shape the University's diverse international student community.
“As international students, we come from different nations, speak different languages, practise different traditions, wear different clothes, eat different foods, and tell different stories. Yet, here at KNUST, we have found a common home,” she said.
Jaja said cultural diversity should be viewed as a strength rather than a source of division, adding that the different backgrounds represented at KNUST offered opportunities for meaningful connections and mutual learning.
“Our diversity is not a barrier that separates us. It is a bridge that connects us,” she said.
She said understanding one's own heritage provided a foundation for appreciating the heritage of others, while platforms such as the Cultural Festival complemented classroom learning by helping students develop the interpersonal skills needed to live and work across cultural boundaries.
“The ISA Cultural Festival therefore represents the very essence of what we stand for as an Association: Unity, Peace, Diversity, Inclusion, and Prosperity,” she said.
Rwandan High Commissioner to Ghana Rosemary Mbabazi commended the initiative and encouraged students to take advantage of opportunities to interact, learn from one another and build relationships across cultural and national boundaries.
“You have a call to uphold the values that unite us as Africans,” she said. “Our diversity is our strength.”
Professor Ahmed Agyapong, Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and representative of the Vice-Chancellor, commended ISA for organising the festival and highlighted the importance of bringing students from different parts of Africa and the world together.
He encouraged participants to use the opportunity to build relationships and strengthen collaboration across national and cultural boundaries.
Professor Akwasi Acheampong Aning, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs (DoSA) and Patron of ISA, encouraged international students to use their time at KNUST to broaden their networks, learn about the University and engage meaningfully with the wider community.
He said KNUST remained committed to supporting international students and mentoring them to take advantage of opportunities in higher education and beyond.
Professor (Mrs) Augustina Angelina Sylverken, Vice-Dean of the International Programmes Office, also underscored the importance of international engagement, describing the festival as an opportunity for students to participate, connect and experience the University's international community.
Story: Abigail Ofori Photos: Isaac Kwaku Duah
