Ghana Embassy, Washington DC – Against a backdrop of limited support for Ghanaian students abroad, GRASAG-USA was inaugurated at the forecourt of the Ghana Embassy on Saturday, May 27th, 2017.
The 1st President, Juliet Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, reiterated the successes and challenges of the Ghanaian student in the United States.
In her speech, she highlighted the five focus areas the association would be running with. Academic and Professional Development, Research and Advocacy, Education and Outreach -focus on prospective students, Finance Strategy and Student Welfare.
The incoming President said, “Mr. Chairman, our training abroad should not only benefit us as individuals. Our intellect and experiences should benefit our country as well. We are aware of the many challenges confronting our beloved country.
Moving forward, we hope to use our voice in advocacy and our skills in creating solutions to the numerous challenges bedeviling our nation: the growing menace of illegal mining activities, the age-old canker of corruption, the falling standards of education, our poor work ethics, lack of investment in research and scholarship.
All these and more are problems we hope to address. They are not easy to tackle but they are not insurmountable. We shall not be just another voice but the voice of reason.”
Hon. Ama Dokua Asiamah Agyei, Deputy Information Minister, delivered a speech on behalf of Education Minister Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. In her speech, she drew the attention to brain drain in Ghana and the need for Ghanaian professionals abroad to make their presence felt back home in their areas of expertise.
This was followed by the swearing in ceremony of the executives where the president; Jojo France-Mensah, vice-president; Priscilla Mansah Codjoe, secretary; Salim Nuhu Ahmed, Treasurer and Anthony Twumasi, Public-Relations Officer were sworn into office by Mr E-B Asare-Asiedu, the acting Head of the Embassy.
He charged the executives to work diligently to improve the lives of graduate students and encouraged Ghanaian professionals to return home to develop Ghana where help is most needed.
Eminent Ghanaian professionals also present, shared their story with the gathering. Dr Yao Ababio, president of KNUST Alumni, North America; Mr Janis Bediako, president of Global Geo-technical Consults; James Grant Money, Business Analyst; Leslie Mills, a World Bank consultant and Korantemaa Larbi, Architect and CEO of Design 233 were all there to express their goodwill and exchanged conversation with students.
GRASAG-USA is poised to make waves in the student welfare space and we can expect many good things to come from its executive team and supporting committees.
We thank all who made it possible especially our liaisons at the Ghana Embassy, Washington DC for a good work done.
Some executives of GRASAG