A group, comprising the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Colombia and three Colombian researchers from the Universidad de Cartagena and Universidad de Guajira, has called on the Provost of the College of Humanities.  

The group which was on a working visit to the Centre for Latin American Studies (CLAS), was introduced to Provost, Prof. Dan Ofori by Dr. Joanna Boampong, the Director of the CLAS.

In her remarks, Dr. Boampong explained that Dr. Claudia Milena Vaca, the new Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Colombia, was keen on advancing further the close ties her Embassy has had with the CLAS and UG over the years. With respect to the researchers, the Director of CLAS indicated that Dr. Diana Elvira Lago and Dr. Alejandrina Lago de Sota, both from the University of Cartagena and Dr. Claribel Ochoa Romero of the University of Guajira were visiting the Centre within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between UG and their institutions in 2021. Dr. Boampong outlined that the highlight of the researcher’s visit was their participation in a global forum organised with Faculty and students from the Spanish Section of the Department of Modern Languages entitled “Reflections on Africa from the Colombian Caribbean”. Additionally, areas of research collaboration with the CLAS were also being explored.

Welcoming the guests, Provost Ofori underscored the diverse constitution of the College of Humanities and the key role it plays in UG’s internationalisation efforts. He expressed the College’s readiness to lend its support to collaborations with the Colombian Embassy and the Colombian Universities.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Colombia commented on the impending arrival of the new Ambassador of Colombia to Ghana and looked forward to exploring areas of common interest between the two countries.

For their part, the Colombian researchers discussed their work on ethno-education which has a focus on making education more inclusive by introducing content on ethnic minorities into curricula, focusing on minority issues, promoting minority cultures and belief systems, all of which had been missing from mainstream education in Colombia.

They expressed the hope that their collaborations with the Centre for Latin American Studies and the University of Ghana would enrich their research and broaden the scope of reference for their work. They pointed out that the election of Madam Francia Márquez, an Afro-descendant and activist, as Vice President, and the appointment of another Afro-descendant, who is Deputy Minister for Education in Colombia, portends a favorable atmosphere for explaining African-related content.