The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has begun discussions with Imperial College London on potential research collaborations following a visit by officials of the newly established Imperial Global Ghana (IGG) Hub, which aims to connect researchers, universities, and industry across West Africa.
The visit forms part of efforts to strengthen engagement between Imperial College London and universities in the region. The Imperial Global Ghana Hub, established in November 2024, serves as the platform through which Imperial College London intends to facilitate partnerships and collaborative research in Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.
Majid Ezzati, Academic Director of IGG, shared the College’s interest in establishing collaborations with KNUST, noting that the hub is intended to act as a broker for partnerships rather than operate as a teaching campus.
“It is a physical presence that is supposed to help us build and support partnerships. We will not be doing formal teaching there and we will not be enrolling students here,” he explained.
According to him, the hub, managed by Amma Boakye-Danquah, Associate Director, will primarily facilitate connections between researchers from Imperial College London and academic and enterprise institutions in Ghana.
“The hub will broker relationships between individuals or groups at Imperial and individuals or entities within universities and industries in the region,” he said.
He also noted that although there is not yet a formal agreement between Imperial College London and KNUST, some researchers from Imperial are already collaborating with colleagues in Ghana.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor David Asamoah expressed management’s appreciation for the visit and the interest in strengthening collaboration with the University.
He noted that KNUST, as a science and technology institution, places strong emphasis on knowledge creation and research across various disciplines and said the University was pleased to engage in discussions that could lead to meaningful partnerships.
Dr. Akyana Britwum, Mrs. Eunice Adu Boahen, Mrs. Patricia Amoah Yirenkyi, and Dr. Cyril Dziedzorm Boateng were also present at the meeting.
