More than 30 accredited colleges and universities from the United States last Friday converged in Accra to engage Ghanaian students directly on opportunities to pursue higher education in the US.
The institutions, participating in the annual EducationUSA College and University Fair, provided students with information on admissions, scholarships, financial aid and student visa processes.
The fair, organised by the US Embassy in collaboration with EducationUSA, followed a similar engagement in Kumasi last Thursday.
It formed part of efforts to expand access to higher education opportunities in the US for students across Ghana.
Addressing the gathering, the Acting Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Mr Rolf Olson, said the event connected students and parents directly with representatives of US institutions.
He said the participation of nearly 30 accredited US colleges and universities gave students the opportunity to explore different institutions and programmes, noting that with more than 3,000 higher education institutions in the US, such engagement was essential to making informed choices.
Mr Olson said the United States was this year marking the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, providing an opportunity to reflect on the values that had shaped the country, particularly the conviction that opportunities should be available to those willing to work for them, a principle he said was reflected in the college fair.
He said the figure represented a significant increase from about 4,000 Ghanaian students recorded in the 2019/20 academic year, the last academic year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, the growth demonstrated the quality of Ghanaian students and the commitment of families to education, while reflecting the importance the US Embassy placed on educational exchange.
Mr Olson encouraged students who secured admission to US institutions to apply for their student visas as early as possible. He said the fair also included sessions on university applications, financial aid and the consular visa process.
For her part, the Executive Director of ACE Consult and Senior EducationUSA Adviser, Ms Merilyn Owusu, said the US Embassy had worked with EducationUSA to organise the fair annually for the past five years.
She explained that the initiative enabled students to interact directly with admissions officers and obtain accurate information to guide their applications.
Ms Owusu said EducationUSA helped students understand US higher education institutions, supported applications and guided them throughout the process.
She noted that the fair was free and encouraged prospective students who could not attend to contact EducationUSA offices in Accra and Kumasi for assistance.
Also speaking, the Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Nana Baffour Awuah, urged Ghanaian students to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the fair.
He advised students to examine the programmes offered by US universities, explore scholarships and ensure that their choices aligned with their aspirations.
Nana Awuah stated that students who acquired skills abroad and returned home could contribute to Ghana’s development.
He further observed that such opportunities could help reduce pressure on local educational institutions.
He cited the high demand for places in some senior high schools, where applicants could far exceed available spaces, as an indication of the need to expand educational opportunities for Ghanaian students.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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