In a move to underscore the commitment to fostering educational collaboration between Ghana and the United States, Ghanaian students studying in America benefited from a $9 million investment from US universities in 2023.

This development, according to the Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the US Embassy Ghana, Emily Fertik was part of a deliberate plan by the respective US institutions through EducationUSA to address funding challenges Ghanaian students encounter in their bid to pursue higher learning.

“Last academic year, EducationUSA helped facilitate $9 million of scholarships and financial aid for Ghanaian students. To be clear these are not scholarships coming directly from the US Embassy, these are scholarships offered by the universities themselves.”

Speaking at the EducationUSA College fair in Kumasi, Ms. Fertik indicated that despite the plethora of scholarships and financial aid packages available to international students, they struggled to navigate the process.

EducationUSA in partnership with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Thursday, September 12, 2024, held the Kumasi edition of its annual education fair.

The fair brought together representatives of over fifty American universities and prospective undergraduate and graduate students to interact and explore the opportunities of studying in the US.

Statistics from EducationUSA indicate that Ghana is ranked twenty-third globally, in terms of the number of students studying in the US. As of 2023, 6,500 Ghanaians were learning in the US, a figure expected to rise in the coming years.

Further touching on how prospective students could benefit from a rewarding US education, the Public Diplomacy Counselor admonished individuals to conduct thorough research, build a relationship with EducationUSA, and take advantage of their resources, both virtually and on-site.

“You don’t have to be in Accra or Kumasi to receive EducationUSA services. One thing COVID taught us is that we could do this virtually and every resource EducationUSA offers, they offer virtually as well. This EducationUSA fair is happening across Africa; South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria.”

Chief Executive of ACE Consult and EducationUSA Advisor, Marilyn Owusu hinted that despite the difference in curriculum, Ghanaian students have always fitted in perfectly when they encountered the US education system.

“The US universities appreciate that international students are used to a particular curriculum from their home countries, so for the first year, they all go through a normal, routine class and faculty. I must say we are very excited about the prospects of this fair.”

A fair attendee, Charlestina Valeria, a student from the Kumasi Anglican SHS who aspires to be an optometrist or a dentist, expressed her excitement about the event.

She indicated that her interaction with the schools’ representatives had exposed her what she needed to do in achieving her goals.

“My expectation for coming here is to explore more about the schools in the US. I want to offer optometry or dentistry and honestly, I am highly enthused about the opportunity to be here, because I have explored more, speaking to the schools present,” she said.

Some of the universities present at the EducationUSA fair included Park University, Lewis University, Bryant University, East Carolina University, University of Bridgeport, Sunyat Buffalo, University of Western States, American University, University of South Dakota, and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology amongst others.

EducationUSA, with offices in Accra and Kumasi, remains the trusted source for information on US higher education, offering comprehensive guidance on accredited institutions, admissions processes, financial aid, and student visas.