The School of Languages, University of Ghana, has received books donated by the Lebanese Ambassador, H.E. Maher Kheir, accompanied by a representative of the Lebanese Community in Accra. The number of books donated is sixty-three (63), of which fifty-eight (58) are in Arabic, four (4) in English and one (1) in both English and French. The Dean, Professor Helen Yitah, received the donation on behalf of the School of Languages.

The donation follows the establishment of Lebanese Literature Prizes for undergraduate and graduate students in the University of Ghana and reaffirms and strengthens cultural and educational ties developing between the School, the Embassy and the Lebanese Community in Accra.  

Speaking at the event, the Dean, Professor Helen Yitah, said that the donation was the culmination of a discussion with H.E. Maher Kheir which started a year ago, regarding challenges which faculty and students faced in accessing relevant books on Lebanese literature.

Prof. Yitah remarked that the School attaches great importance to the educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation with its collaborators, including the Lebanese Embassy and the Lebanese community. She added that the book donation would further consolidate the cooperation with the Lebanese Embassy. She observed that despite the long presence of the Lebanese people in Ghana, the academic study of Lebanese literature was a relatively new field. She said the book donation would enhance the study of Lebanese Literature in the School and promote understanding between the two nations and cultures. She expressed the hope that this initial gesture would be the first of many more to come, and that both parties would continue to pursue other ways to strengthen their cooperation, including collaboration in research and graduate student supervision. She thanked the donors on behalf of the School and the University of Ghana and gave the assurance that the books would be used judiciously. 

In his remarks on behalf of the Embassy and Lebanese Community, H.E. Maher Kheir stated that the books were provided by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture and that it was an honor to donate them to the School of Languages as a gesture by the Lebanese community towards cultural development. He said that he believed that the donation would be put to good use by the students.