Cardiff University in the UK has launched an Alumni Ghana Chapter to strengthen its global alumni network and deepen engagement with graduates across Africa.
The new chapter is expected to serve as a hub for networking, mentorship, professional development, and collaboration among Cardiff graduates living and working in Ghana.
The inauguration, held in Accra, brought together former students from diverse professions, including journalism, public relations, government, banking, and the technology industry sectors.
They networked and reconnected, shared stories of transformation, achievements, and the enduring value of Cardiff education, including highlighting the university's long history of welcoming Ghanaian students.
They also recounted how their Cardiff experience had shaped their careers to contribute to national development.
The chapter would also offer them further opportunity to amplify their voices, strengthen networks, mentor the next generation, collaborate and position Cardiff-trained professionals as catalysts for national transformation.
The chapter is chaired by Mina Okuru Addico and Famous Kwesi Atitsogbe.
Significance
The Co-Chair, Mina Okuru Addico, urged alumni to build a stronger, more connected alumni community in Ghana, and described the “Cardiff advantage” as a unique blend of academic rigour, real-world exposure and personal transformation.
"I'm hoping that, going forward, we will build a community — one that is strong and connected.
We take the Cardiff advantage into our work, into the places we live, and into everything we do. We really want to push the Cardiff advantage here in Ghana," she said.
Ms Addico highlighted the quiet but powerful influence of Cardiff-trained professionals already shaping key industries in the country — from sports and media to documentary filmmaking.
She praised the university’s teaching style, particularly the commitment of lecturers who ensured that students received far more than academic content.
Experiences
The co-Chair further encouraged the alumni to use their shared experiences to strengthen professional networks, mentor young people and champion national growth.
Ms Addico emphasised that the Cardiff alumni community in Ghana had immense potential and, therefore, urged members to leverage the newly revitalised platform to inspire positive change.
Another alumnus, Philip, explained how Cardiff reshaped his understanding of journalism and later enabled a smooth transition into public relations.
He said that as a graduate of sociology and political science from the University of Ghana, he was able to specialise in documentary filmmaking during his international journalism programme at Cardiff.
A veteran journalist, David Ampofo, who joined virtually, also urged fellow alumni to nurture the relationships they built during their studies, describing them as invaluable networks that transcended geography and time.
“We are a privileged bunch of people. Engaging with people from all over the world. It leaves you exposed, experienced, and educated. We call it the three E’s,” he added.
Initiative
The Country Director of British Council Ghana, Nii Doodo Dodoo, in a speech read on his behalf, announced a new national mentorship initiative under the council’s broader alumni UK programme to support young Ghanaian professionals, especially recent UK returnees.
The project, which was launched in partnership with the John Kufuor Foundation, would leverage the expertise and networks of UK alumni, including those from Cardiff, to mentor young people in entrepreneurship, technical, vocational education and training (TVET), communications and in other fields.
Nii Dodoo called on Cardiff alumni to bring their networks and influence to strengthen the national programme.
