The U.S. Embassy has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting aspiring West African youth in achieving their dreams of pursuing higher education in prestigious American colleges and universities.

In a debut Education Fair held in Kumasi, the embassy, in collaboration with its educational advisory service, EducationUSA, hosted nearly 30 esteemed U.S. universities and colleges.

The primary goal was to offer academic solutions and opportunities to students, ultimately aiming to increase the admission of qualified Ghanaian students into U.S.-based educational institutions.

The 2022 Open Doors Report underscored this commitment, revealing that during the 2021-22 academic year, 4,916 Ghanaian students were enrolled in colleges and universities across all 50 states of the United States.

This marked a noteworthy 16% increase compared to the previous year, reflecting the ongoing upward trend in the number of Ghanaian students pursuing education in the United States.

During the College Fair Opening Ceremony, Cultural Affairs Officer Laneice Brooker expressed the embassy's unwavering commitment to assisting a greater number of prospective students in realizing their aspirations to study in the United States.

“Even though Ghana was one of the few countries to see an increase in the number of students who went to the United States to study in the last academic year during the pandemic, we aren’t satisfied and are working to see those numbers increase even more,” she said.

Among Sub-Saharan African nations, Ghana stands as the second-largest source of students bound for the United States, with only Nigeria surpassing it in this regard.

Remarkably, Ghana has now ascended to the 18th position globally for sending graduate students to the United States, underscoring its growing prominence in international education.

In a remarkable display of interest and determination, a multitude of students, spanning from secondary to tertiary levels of education in the region, filled the Great Hall of the KNUST in pursuit of valuable guidance for their admission aspirations.

These students engaged with advisors from various universities, delving into the intricacies of college applications and exploring avenues to secure substantial scholarships, all in an effort to enhance their prospects of gaining admission to esteemed institutions.

Laneice Brooker, in her address, reiterated the embassy's warm welcome to students from diverse intellectual and cultural backgrounds, reaffirming its commitment to facilitating their educational pursuits.

“Our universities and colleges are eager to welcome more Ghanaian students because of the diversity – both intellectual and cultural – they bring to their U.S. classrooms,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Charles Marfo reiterated the need for one to invest their resources into furthering their education to a higher level.

“Consider as the last step in the formal education ladder, higher education is critical to the development of any nation. It offers experiential learning opportunities. It shapes people’s thinking and provides international exposure and opportunities for high-level research and personal growth,” he said.

Over the past year, EducationUSA centers in both Accra and Kumasi have provided invaluable guidance to thousands of Ghanaian students, aiding them in their applications to American universities and colleges.

The dedicated advisors at these centers have been instrumental in helping numerous students gain admission to a wide array of accredited higher education institutions. Their efforts have also resulted in the facilitation of $7 million in financial aid and scholarships for these students.

This successful Education Fair model will be extended to city centers in two additional West African countries, namely Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, in order to further support and empower aspiring students across the region.