Gabriel Gonzalez

Student Life Editor

A group of ESU faculty and staff, along with several family members, visited Ghana in July 2023 on a study tour and to discuss the possibility of exchange programs. The group met with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a Ghanaian government agency, to discuss an athlete exchange. But over the course of their stay, the ESU representatives were also able to explore and interact with the unique culture of Ghana.

The group was guided by Samuel Quainoo, department chair and professor of political science, who was originally from Ghana and moved to the United States after attending the University of Ghana. The five other ESU faculty and staff were Artress White, Donna-Marie Cole-Malott, Ko Mishima, Lavar Peterson and Beth Sockman.

In an interview with one specific member of the trip, Artress Bethany White, associate professor of English, she spoke on having someone native to Ghana leading the trip: “Many of the professionals we met with were close friends of Dr. Quainoo from his years attending school in Ghana.”

The “study” part of the tour was focused on understanding the impact of slavery and colonialism in Africa. As a part of this intellectual exercise, the group traveled along the Gold Coast to visit ports of the European castle where the enslaved Africans were shipped from, like Elmima Castle, one of the oldest slave ports in the country that saw tens of thousands of slaves trafficked.

“You were able to stand in the cells where people were kept,” White said, remarking on how claustrophobic it had been in a group of just 10, a small number compared to how many more used to be crowded in. “And it just had you think about how miserable it must have been.”

While exploring such heavy topics, the group still gave themselves a chance to enjoy lighter aspects of the culture. Between visiting the Dr. W.E.B. DuBois Center, attending a Ghanaian parliamentary session and going to the President of Ghana’s house, the group made sure to reflect on all the good the nation has done and its future potential since independence.

As one of the first independent nations of Africa after colonialism in 1957, Ghana served as an example to the rest of Africa. The country also has one of the highest youth populations, ripe for economic growth. But that doesn’t mean their urbanization is messy.

White was sure to comment on the natural beauty of Ghana, especially the medicinal forest displaying the biodiversity of the country and the Gold Coast. Parts of the country were underdeveloped, keeping them wholly natural.

The discussion concerning the exchange of students was also fruitful. The University of Cape Coast expressed interest in an athletics exchange. The Ghanaians would most likely come first, though not for another year or two.

“In this country, we don’t study the continent of Africa at all,” commented White when asked about the benefits of a study-abroad program to Ghana. “Africa is made up of 54 unique countries with unique cultures and unique histories. It would be the chance to immerse yourself in the culture, challenge stereotypes and have opportunities for academic enrollment.”

At the end of the colloquium they hosted covering the trip, they added that anyone interested in traveling to Ghana in 2025 should contact Dr. Quainoo or Artress Bethany White for more information.