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News from 2008
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Protective gear, laughter and
an underground mine tour
December,
2008
Dr. Esi Ansah’s Organizational Behaviour class traveled to the mines of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi.
The intent of the trip was to help students understand and apply
the concepts that they had studied and discussed in class. As a
course requirement, each student was to write a term paper about of the core concepts of Organizational Behavior using
AngloGold as a case study. Ms. Esther Malm, Teaching Assistant
and Dr. Esi Ansah, the class instructor joined the Class of 2010
on the trip.
Upon arrival, the group was given a guided tour of the mine as
well as insights into the operations of the company. They were
shown samples of gold-bearing rocks and were informed about the
various Corporate Social Responsibility projects AngloGold is
involved in.
“I found the tour of the mines most fascinating. I’ve never been
800 feet underground before.” remarks Adwoa Tutu when asked
about her impressions of the trip. The group also had the
opportunity to see the underground school for miners and the
mine sites.
The group interacted with miners and spoke with them about their
experiences working in the mine and the working environment at
AngloGold Ashanti. The students discussed concepts they studied
in class such as workspace design, importance of valuing
diversity and organizational communication. “This trip was
tiring, yet very fun and educational” adds Nii Lantei Kumi-Bruce.
Presidential Debate--Ashesi
Style
December,
2008
It
was not on television and it was not stuffy either. It came
after 3 weeks of intensive campaigning by candidates and
campaign team members. Student e-mails were flooded with
campaign messages and posters were clustered everywhere. The
Ashesi Student Council Presidential Debate was organized to
enable students judge the ideas and ideals of the presidential
aspirants.
Students came clad in their supporters' T-shirts and other
paraphernalia. The debate was intense and interesting— a real
battle of ideas. Everyone was excited, faculty and staff as
well. Both candidates did well but if the noise level was
anything to go by, one candidate must have done better than the
other.
As
dusk fell, hungry Labone mosquitoes dared to try and feast on
their unwilling hosts– only to be slapped and squashed, adding
to noise of the clapping and supportive calls. The MCs were
professional, managed to keep their cool and asked their
questions in a fair and supportive manner. Did the Presidential
debate affect the outcome of the elections?
Romeo Owusu-Aning is the new president of the Ashesi Student
Council. Romeo attended St. Augustine’s College before coming to
Ashesi. He has supported Ashesi by conducting campus tours
during orientation as well as putting together material for the
Ashesi website.
Romeo is also the president of the African Renaissance Movement
(ARM)—a campus platform that allows students to discuss and
share ideas about the way forward for Africa.
Nana Ama Akosah
is Chairperson of the Judicial and Electoral Committee (JEC) and
will sit on the Ashesi Judicial Council (AJC). Nana Ama, last
semester was chosen after a long and rigorous interviewing
process to study for a semester at the prestigious Babson
College, Boston.
Charles Agyeman Antwi, one of the 2008 Goldman Sachs Spring
interns was elected Financial Secretary of the council.
According to
the President-elect, Romeo Owusu-Aning, “It’s great to be part
of such an incredible team and I look forward to the year
ahead.”
Great conversations over
breakfast
November,
2008
 On
November 29, 2008 Ashesi hosted a fun-filled fundraising event
with alumni, students and staff. Dubbed "Coffee Morning"
the event gathered old friends and new together for a morning filled with sunshine,
smiles and storytelling. It was great to see old
friends, talk about work and life and think of ways to support Ashesi.
The venue, Cuppa Cappuccino,
was beautiful and relaxing. The cake was divine and juice was
free. Coffee mornings are a great way to get old friends
together and have them support a noble cause. Alumni
and staff present made donations towards the Princess Awoonor-Williams
Scholarship Fund.
The Awoonor-Willams Scholarship
Fund was founded in 2006 to honor the late Prof. Princess
Awoonor-Williams, Economics Lecturer and former head of Ashesi's
Business Department. The Scholarship is awarded annually
to students who experience financial hardship and show
outstanding ethical character.
According to Ms. Fatou Traore, “supporting the Princess
Awoonor-Williams fund is supporting a legacy of concern for
others.” The event managed to raise over GHc 100.
In addition, Ashesi Alumni have
set up a "short code" on all the existing mobile phone networks
in Ghana to allow alumni to make donations to the scholarship
fund via their mobile phones. A donation of GHc .25 will be made
to the scholarship fund every time someone sends the text "give
heart print" to short code 1761 on all networks.
We would like to thank everyone
who participated in this fun event. Let us continue to grow
Ashesi's impact in Africa together.
Ashesi wins EDUCATING AFRICA Country Award
November,
2008
Ashesi
University College this month was awarded the Ghana country
prize for the 2008 EDUCATING AFRICA Pan African Award for
Entrepreneurship in Education. The award seeks to identify and
celebrate the achievements of social entrepreneurs who
understand the role education can play within their communities
in creating positive social change. Prize winners were selected
from a large pool of applicants from across Africa. Ashesi
University College was selected because of our high quality
approach to undergraduate education.
 The
EDUCATING AFRICA Pan African Award for Entrepreneurship in
Education represents a small step forward in terms of drawing
international attention to institutions such as Ashesi. The
award was sponsored by Teach A Man to Fish, see
www.teachamantofish.org.uk an international non-profit
organization working to improve the relevancy, quality, and
availability of education in developing countries and Educating
Africa, see
www.educatingafrica.com a foundation that is committed to
supporting sustainable cost effective education initiatives that
empower students and the communities they represent.
The Astrient
Foundation-Ashesi University Women's Forum
November,
2008
 The
Astrient Foundation supported by Ashesi University has developed
the monthly Women's Forum as a component of its Women's
Initiative and Ashesi’s commitment to keeping alumni connected
with the university.
The Astrient Foundation, founded in 2007 by Rashid Mayes and
Karlyn Hunter, is a non-profit organization established to
support the dissemination of technical knowledge, software and
expertise in economically disadvantage communities. The
foundation aids students who demonstrate acumen or potential in
areas of social responsibility and entrepreneurship. Some Ashesi
students who have benefited from their scholarship and
fellowship programs include Kwei Quaye-Foli, Diamond Kpesese,
Nii Ayertei Tettey, Ernest Appiah and alumnus Samuel Asumadu.
Please see,
www.astrientfoundation.org.
The Women’s Forum serves as a platform for Ashesi students to
interact with successful business women as well as alumnae. It
seeks to inspire and encourage the development of future female
leaders by connecting them with today's highly regarded female
change-drivers. This inter-generational connection is
accomplished through monthly interactive sessions which address
different themes, including personal financial management,
ethics in the work place, women's assertiveness in male
dominated environments and brand management.
According to Rachael Agyemang-Duah, “the Women’s Forum is a step
in the right direction. I look forward to these monthly sessions
because they are both invigorating and empowering. I always
leave feeling inspired about my life and all the great things I
can accomplish. I also get to interact with all these amazing
women!”
Past speakers have included Ms. Allison Bethel, Knight
International Journalism Fellow; Mrs. Patience Quaye, Deputy
Superintendent of Police, Ghana Police Service and Ret. Lt. Col.
Georgina Mensah of the Office of Security, U.S.A. Embassy,
Accra.
Prof. Apt speaks at UN briefing
on the rights of older persons
October,
2008
 Ashesi's
Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof. Nana Araba Apt, was invited
to speak on the issues facing older persons in Africa, at a
recent United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI)
and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) briefing in New
York. The theme for this year’s briefing was, “A Call for a
Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.”
The briefing
was held in recognition of the International Day of Older
Persons, which is observed on October 1, each year. The day was
an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of older persons
within their communities and to evaluate how government policies
are affecting the lives of older persons in countries around the
world. Older persons comprise 11% of the global population yet
they remain largely marginalized in society. Professor Apt also
stated that “the role of civil society is essential in raising
awareness of the need to improve the quality of life for older
persons.” According to Prof. Apt, “the ageing population
presents Africa with a significant problem. However, older
persons, if treated as development partners could help with
improvement in their quality of life.” She acknowledged the
role of NGOs in addressing issues affecting older persons in
Africa and encouraged them to work even harder.
Other
speakers present at the briefing were from Brazil, the Middle
East, Nepal, the Chez Republic and Argentina.
New faculty profile: Erinn Ransom
October,
2008
 If
you met Erinn Ransom on the campus, you might
mistake her as one of Ashesi’s numerous exchange
students. However, Ms. Ransom is an Assistant
Professor and teaches African Philosophical Thought. She's
a single woman who describes herself as a self-determined, contemplative,
heartfelt, spiritual and outspoken individual.
As an undergraduate, Ms. Erinn Ransom double majored in African-American
studies and English at the University of California at Los
Angeles (UCLA). After her undergraduate education, Ms. Ransom
went on to pursue a Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) at
Cornell University writing her thesis on Hip-Hop. She is
currently a Ph.D. candidate at University of California, Berkeley,
and is finishing her dissertation on the topic; “Pan-Africanism
and Diaspora in the 21st Century.”
Erinn
lists her most unique achievement as playing host on a
hip-hop and politics radio show in Berkeley, California. Two
other achievements she is proud of include her first academic
publication while still a freshman at UCLA and designing a
course on Consciousness and Hip-hop at the University of
California, Berkeley.
Ms.
Ransom
has many research interests, including youth culture,
media studies, popular culture, Pan-Africanism and consciousness
theory. She enjoys socializing with family and friends,
watching films, traveling, listening to live music and dancing.
Erinn was attracted to Ashesi because the mission of the
university is aligned with her own. She looks forward to helping
expand the course and majors offering to include more of
subjects in the Humanities. In the future she hopes more Ashesi
students will choose to enroll in Africana electives because she
believes gaining an understanding of Africa’s past and present
is essential to being good scholars, leaders and
citizens for Africa.
She
says she loves teaching and will always be an educator no
matter what additional roles she may take on. She enjoys
working with students and states, “Ashesi students are
confident, polite and ambitious.”
Ashesi hires new Associate
Director of Development
October,
2008
 Ashesi University
Foundation is happy to welcome a new member to our Seattle
staff. Joanna Bargeron joins the Foundation as Associate
Director of Development and will manage Ashesi's Development
office in Seattle.
Joanna holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree from St John's college
and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the
University of Washington. Joanna server in the Peace Corps
as a teacher in Gambia and continues to hold a keen interest in
issues facing Africa.
Joanna served as
Development Director and Deputy Director at the Seattle
Midwifery School before taking time off to focus her energies on
her two children. Even after stepping down, Joanna was
asked to continue her involvement with the Midwifery School and
joined the board, serving as Fundraising Chair and Board Chair.
Joanna brings to Ashesi a wealth of development and community
organizing experience. We look forward to working with her
and the contributions she will make the Foundation team.
Matthew Taggart, current Associate Director will be moving to
spend more time in Ghana at the Foundation's office in Accra.
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