In a visit spurred by a shared commitment to environmental issues and social justice, His Majesty Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the revered Okyenhene King of Akyem Abuakwa, Ghana, came to Worcester Polytechnic Institute September 28 to commemorate a decade of collaboration between WPI and Ghana. The Okyenhene brought a message of global unity and cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges.
The collaboration between WPI and the Akyem Abuakwa region, in the eastern part of Ghana, has focused on various projects, including renewable energy initiatives, clean water access, and sustainable agriculture practices. The Ghana Project Center, founded in 2020 in the villages of Kyebi and Dwenase, is one of more than 50 project centers around the world where WPI students co-design solutions to some of the region’s pressing problems. These endeavors have not only benefited the local communities in Ghana but also have provided invaluable learning opportunities for WPI students and researchers. Projects have included developing a health center assessment, organizing a community infrastructure project, establishing a STEM Curriculum for rural Ghana, and co-creating gold mining safety technology.
"We are honored to have King Amoatia Ofori Panin with us once again, and we are deeply grateful for the enduring partnership between WPI and the Akyem Abuakwa region," said Robert Krueger, professor and Social Sciences and Policy Studies department head. "His message of unity and global cooperation resonates deeply with our mission as an institution that seeks to make a meaningful impact on the world through science, technology, and social progress."
