UNITED STATES OPENS SECOND AMERICAN CORNER IN KUMASI

The United States of America Embassy in Ghana has opened the second American Corner in Asokwa Municipality, Greater Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, aside from the Greater Accra Region Corner.

According to the 2023 Open Doors Report on the embassy website, “a total of 6,468 Ghanaians studied in the United States in 2022-2023—an increase of 31.6 percent and a record.
“Ghanaians in graduate degree programs totaled 4,140, a 38 percent increase over last year, making Ghana the 14th largest sender of graduate students to the United States.

“Last year, Ghanaian students earned nearly $9 million in scholarships to more than 700 higher educational institutions in all 50 states.

“To help meet the growing demand, the U.S. Embassy processed a record number of student visa cases in the last fiscal year.

“The United States remains the top destination for international students, with over one million (1,057,188) international students in the academic year 2022-2023, which is a 12 percent increase over the previous year”.

This has promoted the need to set up learning corners at various vantage points to help assist students who are willing to pursue their education at the various universities and colleges in the United States of America.

The EducationUSA Advising Centers are also to “work with students in-person and virtually to enhance understanding of the college or university application process for successful applicants”.

Due to that, the United States Ambassador connected local executives to officially open the second American Corner Center in Kumasi.

Virginia Palmer says the facility will provide free and open access for young Ghanaians to learn more about the United States, attend free educational programming, develop new skills, and access a wide range of resources.

She added that it will also empower young Ghanaians to take the lead in shaping the future of Ghana and strengthen the bonds between both countries.

“The center is open to the people of Kumasi and is free”.

Meanwhile, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive Mr. Samuel Pyne, who was invited to grace the occasion, admonished students and those who are yet to enroll in the second cycle and universities to take advantage of the United States ‘American Corner’ to know more about American educational systems if they want to further their education in the States.

The Kumasi American Corner is the second learning center after the Accra Center to be opened to offer tailored learning solutions to students who want to study in the US.

According to the embassy, Ghana is the fourteenth country in the world that has sent the majority of students to the United States.

“I should say that students who are yet to enroll in second-cycle institutions should consider STEM, technical, and vocational courses seriously because the American Corner has come to shape students with such skills.

Mr. Samuel Pyne added that the center will help train students who have an interest in STEM education, entrepreneurship, and skills education.

By Enock Baffoe/uniquenewsgh.com