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Tag: Harvard

  • Bawumia delivers keynote address at Harvard University’s Africa Business Conference

    Bawumia delivers keynote address at Harvard University’s Africa Business Conference

    Former Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, takes center stage at this year’s Africa Business Conference at Harvard University, delivering a keynote address that explored Africa’s economic transformation and the role of digital innovation in shaping the continent’s future.

    The conference, scheduled for February 14 and 15, is one of the most prestigious gatherings of business leaders, policymakers, and innovators committed to driving Africa’s development. 

    Organized by the Africa Business Club at Harvard Business School, the event with the theme “A myth or mandate for Africa’s progress” provides a platform for thought-provoking discussions on sustainable growth, governance, and economic resilience.

    As an economist with a track record of financial and digital reforms in Ghana, Dr. Bawumia’s insights offered a compelling perspective on economic stability and digital transformation. His keynote address underscored the need for African economies to embrace digitalization, expand financial inclusion, and strengthen governance structures to drive long-term growth.

    The Africa Business Conference is renowned for attracting influential voices who shape Africa’s economic landscape. This year’s lineup features a diverse range of speakers known for their impact in business, policy, and innovation. Their discussions aim to generate solutions to pressing challenges and inspire a new generation of leaders committed to Africa’s progress.

    Dr. Bawumia’s participation reaffirms Ghana’s growing role in Africa’s economic dialogue. His address is expected to contribute to broader conversations on how the continent can leverage technology, improve fiscal policies, and foster economic resilience in an increasingly digital world.

    The conference remains a vital forum for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and visionary leadership—elements essential to Africa’s continued development.

  • Harvard students call off demonstration as school decides to talk about Middle East crisis

    Harvard students call off demonstration as school decides to talk about Middle East crisis

    People who were against the fighting between Israel and Hamas were taking down their tents at Harvard Yard. This happened because the university agreed to talk to them about their concerns, which ended the protests peacefully. Other protests at different universities were stopped by the police.

    The group Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine said they no longer needed to stay in their camp, and the university president agreed to talk to them about their concerns.

    Many college students this spring made camps to ask their schools to end connections with Israel and companies that support it.

    The most recent war between Israel and Hamas started when Hamas and other fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7. They killed about 1,200 people and took 250 more as hostages. Palestinian fighters have around 100 prisoners and Israel’s army has killed over 35,000 people in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. They don’t separate between civilians and fighters.

    Harvard’s president and the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hopi Hoekstra, are going to talk with the protesters about the fighting in the Middle East.

    The protesters said they made a plan to talk to the people in charge of Harvard University, including the Harvard Management Company. This company manages the university’s money, which is around US$50 billion.

    The protesters said that the students will plan to talk about disclosure, divestment, reinvestment, and make a Center for Palestine Studies. The students also said that Harvard has offered to cancel suspensions for over 20 students and student workers and reduce punishments for 60 more.

    “A person speaking for the protesters said that in the past three weeks, the encampment has grown and strengthened support for Palestine on campus. ” “It has made a difference in how much information is shared and assets are sold at Harvard. “

  • Harvard premieres documentary honouring Ghana’s Kente and its enduring legacy

    Harvard premieres documentary honouring Ghana’s Kente and its enduring legacy

    Ghana’s rich cultural heritage took center stage with the debut of the groundbreaking documentary film, ‘The Importance of Kente to Ghanaians & Black Africans,’ at the esteemed Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

    Directed by acclaimed BBC journalist Amma Prempeh, the film explores the intricate artistry, cultural significance, and global impact of Kente cloth, a traditional Ghanaian textile steeped in deep historical roots.

    “Kente is more than just a cloth; it’s a living embodiment of our history, values, and aspirations,” said director Amma Prempeh.

    “This film is a tribute to the generations of weavers who have kept this tradition alive and a celebration of its continuous relevance in our globalized world.”

    The premiere, hosted by the Africa Caucus and Black Students Union, marked the beginning of Black History Month and capped off the “Africa Caucus Around the Fire Policy Series.”

    The documentary delves into the journey of Kente, tracing its transformation from a symbol of Ghanaian royalty to a potent global emblem of resistance and identity.

    It delves into various aspects such as its cultural significance, economic and social impact, and its pivotal position in global politics. Through the voices of weavers, historians, and cultural scholars, the film presents a rich tapestry of narratives, offering profound insights into the enduring legacy of Kente.

    After premiering in Ghana on August 26, 2023, at the Golden Eagle Cinema in Kumasi City Mall and later at the African Regent Hotel in Accra on September 10, 2023, this poignant documentary made its international debut at Harvard.

    This marks a significant milestone, as it extends the vibrant tapestry of Ghanaian culture to a global audience, stimulating conversations on identity, representation, and cultural interchange.

  • Woman ‘attacks’ residents of Ogbojo Manet Palms Estates for not being Ghanaians, educated

    Woman ‘attacks’ residents of Ogbojo Manet Palms Estates for not being Ghanaians, educated

    A female resident of Ogbojo Manet Palms Estates has been accused of engaging in discriminatory behavior towards her neighbors based on factors such as nationality, tribe, religion, and educational background.

    The accused, Julia, who per a video shared by X user, @eddie_wrt is said to identify as a Harvard University graduate, reportedly holds a belief of superiority over others in the neighborhood.

    According to reports, multiple cases have been filed against Julia at the Madina Police station. In one instance, it is claimed that she drove over a police officer’s foot, although no consequences followed.

    It has also been alleged that Julia lives with her daughter, but for reasons unknown, the little girl has not been enrolled in school. Social welfare reportedly attempted to intervene and investigate the matter, but Julia’s response was described as violent, and she refused to cooperate.

    Below is the footage capturing Julia’s discriminatory behaviour.

  • Claudine Gay becomes first Black president of Harvard

    Daughter of Haitian immigrants, Claudine Gay has been declared the 30th President of Harvard University.

    This makes her the first Black person and the second woman to lead the Ivy League school.

    Gay currently serves as a dean at the university and will assume her position in July 2023. She will replace Lawrence Bacow, who is stepping down to spend more time with family. She was elected to the presidency by the Harvard Corporation, the University’s principal governing board, with the consent of the University’s Board of Overseers, The Harvard Gazette reported.

    “She is a terrific academic leader with a keen mind, great leadership and communication skills, excellent judgment, and a basic decency and kindness that will serve Harvard well,” Bacow said. “Perhaps most importantly, she commands the respect of all who know her and have worked with her.”

    Penny Pritzker, senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation and chair of Harvard’s presidential search committee, praised Gay’s qualities. “For all her professional accomplishments, even more impressive are Claudine’s personal qualities—her quality and clarity of mind, her broad curiosity about fields beyond her own, her integrity and fair-mindedness, and her dedication to creating opportunities for others. She will be a great Harvard president in no small part because she is such a good person,” Pritzker said.

    In her acceptance speech, Gay said the appointment reflected her journey from the child of poor Haitian immigrants who believed firmly in the power of education to a career in academia.

    “My parents are immigrants from Haiti. They came to the U.S. with very little and put themselves through college while raising our family,” Gay said. “My mom became a registered nurse and my dad a civil engineer. And it was the City College of New York that made those careers possible. College was always the expectation for me. My parents believed that education opens every door.”

    Gay was recruited by Harvard in 2006 as a professor of government. She was also appointed a professor of African and African American Studies in 2007. In 2015, she was named the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government when she also became dean of social science at FAS.

    She is reorganized as an influential expert on American political participation, according to Harvard Gazette. Her research and teaching explore how various social and economic factors shape political views and voting behavior, the platform added.

    She is the founding chair of Harvard’s Inequality in America Initiative which advances scholarship in the effects of child poverty and deprivation on educational opportunities. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was a member of the American Association of Universities advisory board on racial equity in higher education.

    Gay received her bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University in California in 1992. She got her doctorate degree in government in 1998 from Harvard, where she won the Toppan Prize for the best dissertation in political science. Gay served as an assistant professor and then a tenured associate professor at Stanford before joining Harvard in 2006.

     

    Source: Face2faceafrica

  • NSMQ star Francisca Lamini gains admission to Harvard University

    The 2021 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) poster girl, Francisca Lamini, has gained admission into the prestigious Harvard University.

    Announcing the news on social media, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, revealed that she has been granted a full scholarship to complete an undergraduate program at Harvard University.

    Also in a post on Facebook, radio and TV personality, Berla Mundi revealed that after completing her program, Francisca Lamini would gain admission into Harvard Medical School or any other Ivy League medical school of her choice.

    Taking to his Facebook account to confirm the news, the Chair of Harvard Interviews in Ghana, Sangu Delle, wrote “…I can confirm that Francisca Lamini was granted admission to Harvard College (undergraduate) on a full scholarship.”

    This news has gotten many Ghanaians excited for the young girl who stole their attention at the 2021 NSMQ competition.

    Her school, Ketasco, made history when they qualified for the finals of the NSMQ. The school represented by Francisca, Bright Senyo Gadzo and James Lutterodt battled against six times champions Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) and Prempeh College.

    Though her school did not win the ultimate prize, she received praises for being the only female in the grand finale of the popular quiz show in the last eight years.

    During her exploits on the programme, it came to light that the prodigy from the Keta Senior High Technical School had already scored straight As in the private Nov/Dec WAEC examinations.

    This was back in SHS 2 when she sat for the test. She, however, repeated the feat in the just-ended West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when the results were released on December 8.

    It also emerged that she was at the top of her class throughout her primary to JHS journey.

    Francisca Lamini was also named the Most Outstanding Student at the 2021 NSMQ where Prempeh College emerged victors.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com