US Embassy Opens Centre To Promote Information Sharing

The United States Embassy in Accra on Monday officially opened a centre at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD). This is to promote individual research into all aspects of American life and culture and encourage information sharing between Americans and Ghanaians The centre dubbed: "American Corner" features a collection of books, journals and other materials that augment the holdings of the University of Ghana's research library. The collections also focus on a holistic study of the United States, including its foreign policy, education system, culture and history. Ms Julie Furuta-Toy, Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy, who represented the US Ambassador to Ghana, said the Centre would also host a broad range of programmes including book discussions, lectures from visiting Americans as well as internet connections between local and US schools. Another feature of the Centre, she said, would be the presence of an Education Adviser to counsel Ghanaians who want to study in the United States. Ms Furuta-Toy said: "The Centre is a resource for all Ghanaians, for LECIAD, and the University students as well as the general public to access information, to read a book or a magazine, to watch a movie, to open and maintain an email account or simply to get ready for the next exam and our resource persons are available to help make this happen." She called on Ghanaians to visit the Centre and make use of the partnership between the US Embassy and the University of Ghana's Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy. Professor Kwame Boafo-Arthur, Director of the Centre, said the establishment of the American Centre had brought information closer to the students and faculty members as well as the University in general. He expressed the hope that students would learn of the scholarship and grant opportunities that would allow them to further their education. "We look forward to seeing many University of Ghana students and the general public attending American Corner programmes," Prof. Boafo-Arthur said.