February 11, 2016
A cross-section of business professionals and investors from Bordeaux, France, visited Ashesi in January to engage members of the community about the institution’s contributions in the educational and professional space in Ghana. The visit formed part of the group’s trip to Ghana to seek investment and collaborative opportunities in areas including pharmaceuticals, construction, technology, export, transportation, education, agriculture and energy.
Leading the delegation was Maweuna Trebah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) who emphasized the importance of being strategic about the kind of partnerships the business community in Ghana is developing. “As an investment promotion center, it is important that when we go out to showcase Ghana, we showcase all the different elements of who we are,” she said. “Not just the investment opportunities, but also the quality of the expertise that exists in the country. This is in order to attract a certain quality of investor. Clearly [Ashesi] is an institution of excellence that showcases the quality of Ghanaian expertise that international organizations can expect when they come to Ghana.”
The delegation also engaged with members of Ashesi’s executive team and a group of alumni from DreamOval, about possibilities of collaboration. “I am impressed with how Ashesi is preparing the leaders of tomorrow,” said Olivier Labbe, General Director of Cap DC, a Bordeaux based firm that designs and builds data centres. “That education here is not only about the technical side but also about leadership, which is important for the business leader not only in Ghana, but also in Africa.”
The interaction also provided the opportunity for Ashesi to open discussions about academic–industry partnerships with institutions in Bordeaux. “We are looking to expand our linkages with other universities and industries towards the enrichment of our community,” said Araba Botchway, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. “For a long time, we’ve been working closely with institutions in the States and in Canada. This though, is a new avenue we can explore so is its important for us to let them understand what forms the basis of what we do here in Ashesi. Hopefully this will lead to some strong partnerships.“
The Ghanaian Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Johanna Odonkor Svaniker, who accompanied the delegation further reiterated the need to show the best of Ghana. “We want to showcase the best of Ghana, and what is most relevant to business and academics in pushing the Ghana government agenda forward. Ashesi is a perfect example of Ghanaian excellence, a model which we will like to emulate.”
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