Support DTI-A to remove financial barriers to education – UG Vice Chancellor urges corporate Ghana

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), and member of the Advisory Council of Drive to Inspire–Africa (DTI-A), Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has called on corporate Ghana, and philanthropists to support the efforts of DTI-A aimed at removing financial constraints hindering the ability of some Ghanaian students to achieve their full academic potentials.

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo made the call in her special guest of honour address, at a ceremony to officially launch the Drive to Inspire – Africa initiative which also served as DTI-A’s first fundraising activity, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, held under the theme: “Inspiring Minds, Empowering Youth, Transforming Africa.”

“As an academic and knowing well the importance of education to the overall development of individuals and the nation as a whole, I am particularly excited to be part of this noble (DTI-A) cause. Education is not just a privilege; it is a fundamental right that is captured in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4).

“Education is not merely a tool for personal development, it is a catalyst for social change, economic growth, and global progress. However, for many aspiring students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, accessing higher education remains an elusive dream overshadowed by financial constraints,” Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo said.

“The goal [of DTI-A] to offer scholarships at the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic year is not just ambitious but it is essential. It is to give hope to deserving students, to light up paths, and to build bridges over the obstacles that stand between them and their dreams. Our goal is simple yet, profound, to provide financial support to those deserving students who lack the means to pursue tertiary education by providing tuition fees, accommodation, and stipends. From where I sit, I know how far this can go.

“We [DTI-A] believe that no one should be deprived of the chance to fulfill their academic potential due to financial hardship. But we cannot achieve this vision alone, that is why we are here tonight. We need the support of donors, philanthropists, corporate partners, and concerned citizens like you,” the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana added.

Forward looking

She further emphasized that every contribution, “no matter how big or small, will make a tangible difference in the lives of these students” and that every support will not be treated as “just a donation,” but they will be seen as “an investment into “future leaders, innovators, and changemakers” in Ghana and the rest of Africa.

The first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah, commended Nana Adjoa Hackman, the founder of DTI-A, for not limiting the vision of the Not-for-profit Organisation (DTI-A) to Ghana alone but for making it a continental agenda.

Cautious use of resources

With KPMG as accountability partners of Drive to Inspire – Africa, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo assured all donors that they can “be sure that [their] support and donations to DTI-A will be put to very good use”.

“I conclude in the words of Nelson Mandela that “education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world”. Let us be the agents of change, the catalyst of hope and the champions of education for all” Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo stated.

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra

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