The family of the late Prof. Janet Kwami, an alumna of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana and a distinguished Professor of Communication at Furman University in the USA, has fulfilled a promise she made, by donating a collection of books to the Department. Prof. Kwami had pledged her library to the Department before her passing.
The generous donation, comprising academic books and scholarly publications, was presented by members of her family during a brief event at the Department.
Dr. Archibold Buah-Kwofie, leading the family delegation, recounted the deep connection the late Prof. Kwami had with the Department, evident through her numerous collaborations. “This donation fulfills Janet's wish, underscoring her deep affection for the Department of Communication Studies and her innate desire to give back,” Dr. Buah-Kwofie explained.
He added that “we are delighted that our sister, wife and daughter, Professor Janet Kwami, left a lasting impact not only in the US but also here in Ghana, particularly within this Department.”
Expressing heartfelt appreciation, members of the delegation extended their gratitude to the Department for making room for the donation to be made.
The Head of the Department, Dr. Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin and Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, warmly received the donation. They both expressed their joy at the thoughtful gesture, recalling the fruitful collaborations the Department had enjoyed with the late Professor Kwami.
Dr. Yeboah-Banin underscored the significance of the donation to the Department, assuring that the books would be put to optimal use. “This donation is incredibly beneficial to us because we anticipate the books to be expansive, diverse in content and importantly, up-to-date, which is highly relevant to our work,” she remarked.
“Janet has effectively addressed a significant challenge facing the Department by donating her books to us. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to her memory and to all of you for honoring her wish and facilitating the realisation of this donation today,” Dr. Yeboah-Banin added.
Late Prof. Janet Kwami, who pursued her Graduate Diploma and MPhil Degrees in Communication Studies at the Department starting from the 2000/2001 academic year, passed away in May 2023. Before her untimely demise, she had established herself as an Associate Professor at Furman University in the USA. She frequently served as a guest lecturer and keynote speaker at conferences organised by the Department.
Late Prof. Janet Kwami
At the time of her passing, Prof. Kwami was collaborating with the Department on the publication of a special issue titled, “Africa’s Digital Youth and Media and
Information Literacy” in the Journal of Media, Communication and Society, where she served as the lead guest editor. The special issue has since been published, further solidifying her legacy within the academic community.
