The Ambassador of the United States of America to Ghana, Robert Porter Jackson, with his wife Mrs. Jackson has visited Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as part of a working visit to the Ashanti Region.
Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of management, students and staff welcomed him and his entourage. He stated that KNUST had more than 45 MoUs with US institutions. Giving examples, he explained that the College of Health Science had partnership with the National Institute of Health, University of Rhodes Islands. Prof. Ellis also informed the Ambassador that in May, the University will host the President of Ramapo College. Again the University had benefitted from several research projects supported by the USAID. He said the ongoing AGRA project was an example.
He was grateful for the continuous support, partnership and collaborations with the US and called for more staff and student exchange programmes to help in teaching, learning and research.
Prof. Ellis lamented the fact that sometimes staff and students were refused visas when they intend to attend academic conferences and events. He further called for improvements in service delivery, especially customer relations, at the Embassy of the United States in Ghana.
Ambassador Jackson was grateful to the University and promised to work to help improve the existing partnerships and to bring more collaborations to help the University to promote development. He also stated that there were opportunities in education and cultural exchanges which both countries could harness for their mutual benefit.
As part of his visit, he toured the KNUST farms of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and later held discussions with Fulbright Scholars. Mrs Jackson interacted with female student leaders.
Mrs Jackson encouraged the female students to pursue their interests and to improve their performance through training as there were more opportunities ahead in their journey of life.
Dr. Mrs. Florence Ellis, Wife of the Vice-Chancellor, also advised the students to learn from their elders, take their academic programmes seriously and to seek the good of others.
Later on a special parade was mounted by the KNUST Cadet Corp in honour of the Ambassador after which he addressed the students. There was a question and answer session and many students took the opportunity to ask various questions.