The Ghanaian Minister of National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, interacts with UF community members after his lecture. Photo by Michel Thomas.
Ghana’s Minister for National Security highlights regional challenges and collaboration opportunities during UF visit
The University of Florida’s Center for African Studies (CAS) recently welcomed Ghana’s Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, for a two-day visit aimed at addressing urgent security concerns in West Africa. Minister Kan-Dapaah engaged with faculty, students, and experts to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the region and explore avenues for regional and international cooperation.
Commenting on the visit, Miles Larmer, director of the Center for African Studies, stated, “Minister Kan-Dapaah’s visit reaffirms the strong partnership between Ghana and the University of Florida. We are committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration to address the security challenges facing West Africa and contribute to sustainable solutions.”
During his visit, Minister Kan-Dapaah delivered a public lecture titled ‘Ensuring Security and Democracy: Ghana’s Role in Regional and International Cooperation’. He emphasized the urgent need for support from Western policy-makers to safeguard democracy in West Africa amidst rising authoritarianism and terrorism. The Minister highlighted Ghana’s commitment to promoting liberal governance and called for collective action to address the challenges facing the region.
A key highlight of the visit was Minister Kan-Dapaah’s engagement with experts from CAS’s Sahel Research Group, laying the groundwork for future collaborations. The visit also included meetings with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences David E. Richardson and Associate Provost and Dean of the International Center Marta Wayne.
In addition to meetings with academic leadership, Minister Kan-Dapaah participated in research showcases featuring faculty and graduate students. During these sessions, members of the UF community showcased an array of research initiatives conducted in Ghana and in collaboration with Ghanaian partners, addressing issues ranging from the causes of environmental degradation to the provision of nighttime mobile medical services in the city of Accra. Notable briefings were delivered by Professor of African Languages and Linguistics James Essegby, Associate Professor of African American Studies and Anthropology Riché Daniel-Barnes, and Associate Professor of Political Science Sebastian Elischer.
During the latter session, a briefing was conducted with the participation of 25 Ghanaian graduate students. The ministerial delegation was presented with groundbreaking research conducted by Ghanaian students spanning fields including ethnomusicology, public health, and biomedical engineering.
“The delegation was greatly impressed with the range and quality of Ghana-related research being conducted at UF in collaboration with Ghanaian universities,” said Larmer. “These exchanges will enable UF researchers to increase the policy impact of their work in Ghana, with the expectation that such initiatives can be replicated elsewhere in Africa.”
Minister Kan-Dapaah’s visit sets the stage for continued cooperation between UF and Ghanaian institutions. Larmer plans to further advance these efforts during his forthcoming visit to Ghana in July, where he will engage with partners from leading Ghanaian universities and government agencies.
“The visit, building on the longstanding ties between UF and Ghanaian universities, strengthened these ties and laid the foundations for long-term, mutually beneficial relations,” Larmer said.