The International Programmes Office (IPO) of the University of Ghana has held a Welcome Durbar for newly admitted international students at the Alexander Kwapong Quadrangle of the Great Hall.
The Welcome Durbar is a festive annual event organised to expose fresh international students to Ghanaian culture while giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents and culture as well. A mixture of dance, poetry recitals and performances from the Ghana Dance Ensemble made the durbar a memorable event.
The occasion was graced with the presence of Officials of the University including the Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel- Ashia, the Dean of Graduate Studies, Prof. Kwadwo Ofori, the Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS),Prof. Chris Gordon, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Prof. Charity Akotia, Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. J.K. Adomako, Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Stella Amoa, Programme Coordinators and other Senior Members from various Schools and Units.
More than 30 countries from which the newly admitted students come from, were represented at the occasion. The countries include Benin, China, France, India, Nigeria, Togo, South Korea, USA. These were graduate and undergraduate students, visiting students, English proficiency students, research fellows among others.
The Registrar urged them to interact with students from all nationalities and learn from their cultural and educational system, since they may not have the opportunity to travel to these individual countries. She wished them well in the course of their stay at UG.
The fun started with an introductory cultural performance by the Ghana Dance Ensemble. The audience was treated to some traditional dances ranging from Borborbor to Kpanlogo after which there were a variety of group and individual performances by the international students from Benin, India, Nigeria, Germany and USA.
Guests were later entertained by a group of international students from the University of California Education Abroad Programme (UC/EAP) followed by a hilarious poetry performed in Twi by Jasmine from the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) portraying her life experiences in Ghana. They were then treated to a variety of local and continental dishes.
