2016 was an exciting year at Ashesi. From the launch of the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre aimed at boosting climate innovative solutions in Ghana to our record setting graduating class, there were many firsts in the year.
While students, faculty and alumni continued to create impact in several areas, Ashesi as an institution was also engaged in building a stronger community. We renewed our partnership with the MasterCard Foundation to continue to support needy but bright students attain first class education and hosted numerous high profiled guests including Ghana’s president-elect, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo.
Below is a collection of the stories that helped shape the year into Ashesi’s most eventful yet.
Inspired by Ashesi, the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast, adopted and structured an honour code that cuts across social conduct and academic work. In a landmark ceremony, four cohorts of the senior class of Wesley Girls High School, Cape Coast, pledged “to be a check on one another in all matters of good conduct and not be deterred by their peers or some significant others; to not be frightened by the challenges or demands that the realization of their goals will make on their time, being and intellect.”
Ashesi University College, in partnership with the World Bank Group, the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands, and Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), inaugurated the Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC) at Ashesi’s campus in May. The technology hub is geared to help over 100 local clean technology businesses grow and commercialize innovative solutions to climate change.
Third year student, Nadia Amasa ’18, shares how she juggles hosting an entertainment television show, working for an online entertainment channel and school work. In Nadia’s words: “I like challenges, and my schedule is challenging enough. It makes me work with a purpose. Besides there is no time to waste. Once it is doable, I’m going to do it.”
Ashesi celebrated its 12th graduating class at a touching ceremony held in the Archer Cornfield Courtyard on campus this weekend. Nearly 2,000 family, friends, students and alumni joined the Class of 2016 to celebrate their years of work at Ashesi, and welcome them to the Ashesi alumni community. Lucy Quist, CEO of Airtel Ghana, was guest speaker at this year’s commencement ceremony. 144 graduates were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science and Management Information.
President-elect, Nana Akuffo-Addo, paid a visit to Ashesi after gracing the installation ceremony of Nana Osae-Sekyie, sub-chief of Berekuso-Asebe. Accompanied by Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, Honorable O.B. Amoah, and other party members, Mr. Akuffo-Addo took a tour of Ashesi’s campus and met with university leadership.
Working with the Next Generation Cocoa Youth Program (MASO), a MasterCard Foundation funded program led by Solidaridad, Dr. Sena Agyepong, is pushing to bring Ashesi’s entrepreneurship training to underserved communities across Ghana.
Freshman Jacob Amhol went from leaving conflict in South Sudan and moving to Kenya as a refugee, and then being admitted into Ashesi as MasterCard scholar. He shares his story and his dream of becoming an engineer to eventually get his brothers out of the refugee camp he grew up in.
Ashesi welcomed the Class of 2020 to campus on Wednesday September 7,2016. This year’s class of 278 students from 18 countries, 106 high schools, and from all the ten regions of Ghana is the largest and most diverse yet.
Ashesi University College’s commitment to educating Africa’s next generation of ethical leaders was bolstered with an additional $25.5 million commitment from The MasterCard Foundation. What was initially envisioned as a commitment to support the education of 200 bright young African leaders as part of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program has been expanded to include an additional 240 students.
On sabbatical from Intel, research scientist Dr. Tawfiq Musah, volunteered at Ashesi’s Engineering Department, teaching the Electromagnetism class for the Fall 2016 semester. Before leaving for college in the United States several years ago, Dr. Musah, who was raised in Ghana, was exposed to some of the gaps apparent in the local educational system. Now he is constantly seeking ways to help address some of them.
To read more stories from 2016, visit our our blog.