His Excellency Roey Gilad, the newly appointed Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Nitza Gilad, paid a courtesy call on the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Professor David Asamoah.
The meeting, held on 12th December 2024 at the Council Chamber of the University, was part of the Ambassador’s familiarisation tour. The visit aimed to foster strategic academic partnerships between Israeli institutions and KNUST, focusing on innovation and knowledge exchange.
The Director of the KNUST E-Learning Centre (KEC), Professor Eric Appau Asante, introduced the Ambassador, highlighting the importance of the visit. He noted that Ambassador Gilad assumed office in September 2024 and had chosen KNUST as the first university to visit, underscoring its reputation as a critical partner in advancing academic and developmental collaborations.
In his remarks, Ambassador Roey Gilad expressed his excitement about visiting KNUST, which he described as "the crème de la crème of universities in Ghana." He lauded the University's vast campus, vibrant population, and green environment. Despite the challenges posed by budgetary constraints due to ongoing conflicts in Israel, the Ambassador affirmed Israel’s commitment to collaborating with KNUST in areas such as the humanities and agriculture.
“What you have here deserves a partnership with us, and we are eager to establish a partnership with KNUST,” he stated.
Professor David Asamoah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, emphasised the University's leadership in science and technology education in Ghana. He highlighted KNUST’s commitment to building constructive partnerships to address global challenges such as sustainable agriculture and digital learning. He also noted Israel's advancements in commercial farming and expressed optimism about potential collaborations in this area.
The Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO), Professor Daniel Y.A. Duah, described the visit as a timely opportunity to strengthen ties between KNUST and Israel. He proposed formalising the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would focus on key areas such as student and faculty exchanges, joint research initiatives, and advancements in digital learning. “It is good to have you at the start of your tenure for more engagement to drive innovation and foster shared growth for the benefit of both institutions,” Professor Duah remarked.
