The U.S. Embassy in Ghana, in partnership with EducationUSA, has successfully hosted its annual College and University Fair, drawing thousands of prospective Ghanaian students seeking higher education opportunities in the United States.

The two-day event, which took place in Kumasi before concluding in Accra, brought together representatives from 30 accredited U.S. colleges and universities.

The fair provided students, parents, and academic counselors direct access to admissions officers to gain accurate and comprehensive information on degree programmes, financial aid, and application processes.

Speaking at the event, Marilyn Owusu, Executive Director of ACE Consult and Senior EducationUSA Adviser, emphasized that the primary goal of the fair is to bridge the gap between U.S. institutions and local applicants.

“This fair is purposely to help students interact directly with admissions officers so that they can get accurate, comprehensive, direct information to help them apply to the schools they are applying to,” Owusu stated.

She added that EducationUSA centers in Accra and Kumasi continue to offer guidance and support to prospective students throughout the year.

Nana Baffour Awuah, Director for Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, noted that expanded study-abroad options could play a significant role in reducing congestion in Ghanaian schools.

“Looking at the number of students that we are to place and then the problems that are coming up, if we are able to get opportunities like this, it will reduce the pressure on our schools and other universities,” Awuah said.

He urged prospective students to choose U.S. programmes that align with their personal goals and national development needs. “Whatever programme that they choose should align with their aspirations, so that when they go, they can come back and develop Ghana for all of us,” he added.

Rapid growth in Ghanaian students studying in the U.S

Rolf Olson, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, highlighted the long-standing educational collaboration between the two nations and pointed to a massive surge in enrollment numbers over recent years.

According to Olson, Ghanaian enrollment in U.S. higher education institutions jumped from 4,000 during the 2019–2020 academic year to 12,800 in the 2024–2025 school year—more than tripling despite the global disruptions caused by COVID-19.

“Over the years since COVID, it’s gone up by 2,500 to 3,000 each year,” Olson said.

“That shows two things: one, the tremendous quality of students and education that we have here in Ghana, and that we have so many students who are able to get into colleges and universities in the U.S. and succeed.”

Olson shared a personal anecdote reflecting this shift, recalling that during his own college days in Minnesota during the 1990s, there were no Ghanaian students on campus.

Returning to the same institution recently, he discovered that Ghanaians now form the largest international student body there.

Some of the students who spoke to the NewsCenta after touring the booths expressed excitement about the educational opportunities which they had now been clued in to.

expressed a desire to pursue university education in the USA.

Ongoing guidance for applicants

In addition to booth interactions, the fair featured specialized information sessions addressing financial aid opportunities and the student visa application process led by U.S. consular officers.