University of Portsmouth (United Kingdom) and Ghanaian Association of Portsmouth (GhAP) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. In a colourful and beautiful ceremony, Chris Chang, Pro Vice-Chancellor responsible for Global Engagement, University of Portsmouth and Ben Abubakar, President of the Ghana Association of Portsmouth signed a Memorandum of Understanding bring the two organisation together for the benefit Ghanaian students attending University of Portsmouth. The signing of this historical agreement was witnessed by the Deputy High Commissioner of Ghana in the UK, Her Excellency, Rita Tani Iddi, and many members of the Ghanaian community within Portsmouth
The partnership between the University and GhAP is the first of its kind that such collaboration between a UK University and a Ghanaian community association, and provide additional support to Ghanaian students attending University of Portsmouth. GhAP will support them as they enrol and acclimatise themselves to living and studying in Portsmouth.
The University of Portsmouth is one of the top UK universities and among the top higher education destinations for students from Ghana.
The Ghana Association of Portsmouth (GhAP) was set up in 1993 following tragic death of a talented Ghanaian student at another south coast university who was found dead in his Halls of Residence. Post-mortem found that the student had died from malnutrition. Shocked by this, the Ghanaian Community pulled together declaring that this tragedy must never be allowed to repeat itself. GhAP evolved to provide support to any Ghanaian in the region.
The president of the Association, Ben Abubakar said: “Most students in Ghana have the support of their communities – not just their parents or grandparents, but also of their extended family – uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbours and friends. Moving from Ghana to UK to study often stifles these support networks and makes their study more challenging than it would have been. Through this Memorandum of Understand (MOU), the Ghanaian Association of Portsmouth would serve as a surrogate “family” to Ghanaian students of the University of Portsmouth and work with the University to provide a better support for Ghanaian students. There is a beautiful African proverb, which states that “it takes a village to raise a child”. While the students of the University we are seeking to support are not children per say, our African culture recognises the shared responsibility needed to educate a young person to become a responsible citizen. This MOU enables us to live up to these ideals.”
Moving from Ghana to UK to study often stifles these support networks and makes their study more challenging than it would have been
Mr Bobby Mehta, Director of UoP Global said “the signing of this agreement is the first of its type for the University of Portsmouth, and something that we have worked towards for the past year. We are delighted to have forged such strong links between the Ghanaian community and the University, and can see this partnership bringing further support to the students that enrol onto our degree courses. Sending a child overseas to study is a big step for the parents as well as their sons and daughters. In working with GhAP, the University can reassure parents of an extra level of community support and guidance, which we hope will make Portsmouth feel even more like their home from home”.
Note to Editors:
For further details, please contact:
Bobby Mehta: bobby.mehta@port.ac.u
Ben Abubakar: GHAP1957@gmail.com
