Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Pays Courtesy Call on Vice-Chancellor to Deepen Diaspora and Academic Ties

The Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, has paid a courtesy call on the Management of the University of Ghana (UG) as part of efforts to strengthen academic, cultural and diaspora relations between Ghana and the Caribbean nation.

The Prime Minister, who also serves as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts/ MP for Ketu South Hon. Dzifa Abla Gomashie.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Drew underscored the deep historical and cultural ties between West Africa and the Caribbean, noting that a significant majority of Caribbean citizens trace their ancestry to West Africa. He described the visit as part of a broader effort to reconnect Africa and the Caribbean through education, research, and people-to-people engagement.

Hon. Dr. Drew highlighted the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Education of St. Kitts and Nevis and the University of Ghana, describing it as more than a formal agreement but a bridge between young people of both regions. He outlined opportunities for collaboration in climate resilience, agriculture, public health, digital innovation, sustainable development, and diaspora studies.

As Chairman of CARICOM, he also referenced ongoing regional discussions on reparations and the importance of academic institutions in providing rigorous research to support such global advocacy efforts, including deliberations at the United Nations. He stressed that political initiatives must be backed by scholarly research and institutional collaboration.

Welcoming the delegation, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo described the visit as both an honour and a reaffirmation of the University’s commitment to deepening engagement with the African diaspora. She noted that while the University has historically partnered extensively with institutions in the Global North, there is a growing strategic priority to strengthen collaborations within Africa and across the African diaspora.

The Vice-Chancellor affirmed the University’s readiness to translate the MoU into actionable outcomes. She proposed concrete areas of cooperation including student and faculty exchanges, joint research initiatives, heritage and diaspora studies and climate change adaptation research. She further reiterated the University’s role as a bridge between Africa and the global African diaspora.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Abla Gomashie reiterated the need for knowledge transfer that translates into the growth of the creative economy, creating sustainable pathways for youth engagement and economic empowerment. She further revealed that her Ministry has established a dedicated committee on reparations and has received positive indications from some countries willing to return Ghanaian artefacts currently in their possession.

The Special Envoy to the Prime Minister, Ama Martin who has strong Ghanaian heritage ties, proposed the establishment of a bilateral committee comprising representatives from both sides to meet regularly and operationalise the partnership. 

In a further boost to connectivity between the regions, the Prime Minister disclosed ongoing efforts to establish direct flights between West Africa and the Caribbean, a move expected to significantly enhance academic mobility, tourism and broader collaboration.

A highlight of Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew visit to Ghana will be his attendance at Ghana's 69th Independence Day celebration on Friday, March 6.