On Monday evening, 12th March 2012, in the Archer and Cornfield Courtyard, the Ashesi Community came together to launch a weeklong celebration to commemorate the university's 10th anniversary. The launch featured talks by Ashesi's Founder and President, Patrick Awuah and the Founder and CEO of UT Bank, Kofi Amoabeng. Also in attendance were the Chiefs and elders of Berekuso, and the Municipal Chief Executive for the Akuapim District. It was the beginning of a week of activities that highlighted the lively social and intellectual community at Ashesi.
Speaking at the launch, Ashesi Founder and President, Dr. Patrick Awuah, shared intimate stories about Ashesi’s early years and the challenges and excitement that came with starting a new university. “I remember the day the first parent came and paid his daughter’s fees. We had to cash the cheque, but it was one cheque I would have really loved to just frame and hang on a wall.”
Patrick aspoke about the courage it took to start Ashesi, and the vision that has kept it going over the past 10 years. “It’s been an incredible 10 years. But I think that the next 10 years are going to be even more interesting and impactful, not just for Ashesi, but for Ghana and Africa.”
All throughout the week, students, staff, faculty and alumni participated in events that were organized to celebrate the impact members of the Ashesi community are making in different aspects of their community. Activities included a career fair, a club and creativity fair, a leadership and community service fair and an academic symposium. The week of 12th – 17th March was one that saw Ashesi buzzing with activity like never before.
“It’s been a great week,” said Zeina Kowalski ‘14. “It’s exciting to see Ashesi turning 10, and being a part of the celebration makes it even better.” In the days preceding Ashesi’s 10th birthday celebration, social media lit up with tweets, status updates and photos from students, alumni, and other members of Ashesi’s community – a collection of tributes demonstrating why we are all “#AshesiNproud.”
The week ended with Ashesi’s first Alumni Homecoming, which saw an incredible number of Ashesi alumni gather on campus to reconnect and share experiences. Yes, the rains came, just as they did when Ashesi had its first inauguration – but the alumni alumni still took on current students in an entertaining game of football. “The students scored the only goal for the day, but we are the winners here, “ said Okyame Sarfo ’09. “After all these years away from the playing field, we Ashesi alumni have shown that we can still put up a good fight. A 1-0 victory for the students is no victory at all!”
This celebration week marks a significant milestone in Ashesi’s history, and will stay a sign of things to come. As Ashesi’s Student Council President rightly said in his address at the celebration launch, “if they ask you who Ashesi is, don’t be confused or even stutter about the answer. No we’re not the Harvard of Africa, the Stanford of West Africa or the MIT of Ghana; we are the Ashesi of the world.”