The U.S-Ghana Alumni Association (USGHAA) has announced the results of a national election among Ghanaian alumni of U.S government-sponsored programmes.

The election of a USGHAA board represents a new beginning for an association that aims to gather 3,000 Ghanaian alumni of exchange programmes, administered by the U.S Department of State under a national umbrella.

U.S Ambassador, Stephanie Sullivan, presided over the conference, which assembled a group of distinguished alumni, including the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Alban Bagbin, and former Speaker, Right Honourable Mike Ocquaye, at Labadi Beach Hotel gardens. The virtual ceremony was broadcast live on the U.S. Embassy Facebook page to the Embassy’s 450,000 followers.

Ambassador Sullivan welcomed the revitalisation of the association, stating, “the USGHAA is microcosm of Ghana, like a mosaic, with all the individual pieces coming together to form a magnificent masterpiece that represents our shared ideals of democratic peace and progress, respect for human rights and rule of law, and inclusive economic prosperity.”

The new executive board members of the USGHAA are: Hilda Mantebea Boye, President; Priscilla Zangina, General Secretar;: Mavis Owureku-Asare, Organising Secretary; Matilda Payne Boakye-Ansah, Public Relations Secretary and Feruzah Salisu, Programmes and Projects Secretary. A Financial Secretary and Member-at-large will be appointed by the executive board.

The inaugural board will serve on an interim basis for one year with the option for re-election for an additional year.

The board is mandated with establishing a mission and vision for the association, revising the constitution and other regulatory documents, and setting up key posts and committees to re-establish the USGHAA as an independent, non-partisan organisation that represents its members across Ghana and strengthens the U.S-Ghana partnership.

The U.S. Department of State and the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section manage a wide array of exchange programmes. These exchange programmes engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and rising leaders in the United States and more 160 countries.