Vice-Chancellor Welcomes Mayor of London to UG, Showcases Student Innovation and Global Partnerships
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, welcomed the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to the University during his first official visit to Africa. The visit marked a significant moment in the University’s ongoing efforts to foster global partnerships and promote student-led innovation.
The Mayor was the keynote speaker at a public lecture co-hosted by the University of Ghana and Imperial College London’s Ghana Hub, under the theme “The Power of Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.” The event brought together students, faculty, alumni, and policymakers to explore how education and enterprise can drive sustainable development across borders.
In her welcome address, Professor Amfo underscored the University’s commitment to addressing graduate unemployment through entrepreneurship and innovation. She noted that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were central to Ghana’s economic future and highlighted the University’s role in co-creating opportunities for students through strategic partnerships.
She disclosed that over 400 students had been supported through various initiatives, with 115 student-led startups nurtured in recent years. The University, she said, aimed to ensure that at least 10% of its student population would be actively engaged in entrepreneurship before graduation.
Professor Amfo also emphasised the importance of international collaboration in shaping the future of education and innovation. She described the Mayor’s visit as a testament to the growing relevance of global partnerships and expressed optimism about deepening ties with institutions such as Imperial College London. She highlighted the University’s collaboration with Imperial through the Accra-based Impact Hub, which aligns with UG’s five strategic priorities: transformative student experience, impactful research, commitment to faculty and staff, engagement and partnerships, and sustainable resource mobilisation.
Mayor Khan, in his address, praised the University of Ghana as a “special place” filled with energy, ambition, and talent. He expressed admiration for the innovative ideas presented by student entrepreneurs and called for stronger international cooperation to support the next generation of changemakers. He also cautioned against restrictive policies on international student enrolment, describing such measures as economically detrimental.
The Mayor’s visit formed part of a five-day trade mission to Africa aimed at strengthening economic and educational ties with the continent. His engagements included meetings with recent graduates and Ghanaian alumni of Imperial College London who are contributing to sectors such as fintech and public health.
The University of Ghana’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to building bridges with global partners and empowering students to lead transformative change across Africa and beyond.