As Co-Chairs of the 75 Anniversary Celebrations Committee of the University of Ghana, we first would like to say, "Akwaaba!" ("Welcome!"-- in Twi, one of Ghana’s most widely spoken languages). To say that we consider it an auspicious moment for the 47th ICTM to take place in Ghana during the University of Ghana’s 75th anniversary would be an understatement. We anticipate that this conference will create opportunities for meaningful encounters, exchanges, and new discoveries beyond the immediate goals of intellectual and organizational formalities.
As textualized in the University of Ghana’s motto, "Integri Procedeamus", and the theme for our 75th anniversary, “Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology, Embracing Humanism”, we see the occasion of the 47th ICTM as a unique context for building and reinvigorating official and informal partnerships that endure. We can harness technology in a spirit of solidarity to sustain such bonds beyond national borders (sometimes barriers), ideologies and disciplinary bifurcations. We invite you to immerse yourselves boldly into many areas of life and living beyond the walls of the academy for there is so much to experience that may not be immediately obvious. The wide range of activities and special programs planned and currently being engaged as part of the UG@75 celebrations already constitute a very positive profile and confirmation of our University’s readiness to not only host, but also make significant contributions to enrich the 47th ICTM meeting in Ghana. We invite you to explore the rich diversity of our cultures and landscapes, from the top of the Legon hills, down to the valleys and beautiful beaches in Accra, and beyond! Do not forget to visit our main university homepage for updates on our UG@75 programs: https://www.ug.edu.gh/
For those who are new to our campus, here is a brief historical background of Legon:
The University of Ghana is the premier and largest of the now thirteen public universities in Ghana. With a current student population of over 73,000, including our regional campuses across Ghana, the university was first established in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast in the former British colony of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and affiliated with the University of London. After Ghana’s independence in 1957, the College was renamed the University College of Ghana, later changed to the University of Ghana in 1961, with the full status of an independent degree-awarding institution. Situated on Legon hills, the University of Ghana is about 8 miles (12 km) from the inner city of Accra, the capital of Ghana. Simply known as “Legon” in local communities, the University of Ghana has produced key learned individual personalities and research institutes of international repute—the current and some former presidents of Ghana are alumni of the university; the late U.N. General Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Laureate Kofi Annan served as the Chancellor of the university, 2008-2018.
Once again: Akwaaba!