Location

Accra, Kumasi, Winneba, Cape Coast, Elmina, Ghana

Program Description

THE 4-WEEK SUMMER ABROAD PROGRAM: The 4-Week Summer Abroad Program in Ghana is the oldest JMU program on the continent of Africa. In partnership with the University of Ghana and a select number of local Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), our students gain knowledge in multiple disciplines--from history to religion to social work, applied engineering, and health sciences.

THE GHANA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: The Ghana Internship allows students practical and hands-on learning experiences with respected NGOs, volunteering, and educational/literacy instructor opportunities at inner-city after-school locations. Students with an interest in special education can support programs for children with autism, shadow and work with nurses and doctors or have the opportunity to join Ghanaian interns at the Kufour Presidential Foundation.

Program = 6 credits

Internship = 3 credits

Progam & Internship = 9 credits

Location Description

Ghana was the first African country south of the Sahara to gain political independence from British colonial rule. It was also from its shores that European merchants engaged in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The several slave castles are now United Nations Heritage site. Our students learn from the several museums that preserve the nation's history. We have partnerships that allow our students volunteering opportunities.

THE GHANA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: 

Accra (Glona After-school literacy)
Accra (New Horizon Special School for Children with autism)
Accra (Kufour Presidential Leadership Foundation)
Winneba (Hospital and Health Sciences/Care experiences).

Director

Program Director: David Owusu-Ansah | owusuadx@jmu.edu | History/AAAD Studies

Ogundipe Adebayo | ogundiaa@jmu.edu | Engineering

Internships: David Owusu-Ansah | owusuadx@jmu.edu | History/AAAD Studies

Ogundipe Adebayo | ogundiaa@jmu.edu | Engineering

Accommodations

We provide off-campus accommodation at comfortable hotels in Accra and at all locations associated with our program such as in Kumasi, Cape Coast/Elmina, Akosombo, and Ho. All our hotels are air-conditioned, and have hot water. Also, there are swimming pools and conference rooms at each of the hotels where we reside.

For the period that we are outside Accra and on the road to historic and cultural sites (about 10 days of the program), students receive all meals as part of the program fees. Otherwise, the program covers breakfast and dinner each day as part of the program fees. The program provides students with bottled water throughout the four weeks. Please remind us if you have any food allergies!

THE GHANA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:

We provide off-campus accommodation at comfortable hotels in Accra and at all locations associated with our program such as in Kumasi, Cape Coast/Elmina, Akosombo and Ho. All our hotels are air-conditioned and have hot water. Also, there are swimming pools and conference rooms at each of the hotels where we reside.

All meals for the internship are covered in the program fees.

Additional Items to Consider

All students are required to have valid passports to travel and must be COVID-19 vaccinated to travel. 

The program director will arrange for you to receive the required Ghana entry visa.

The Ghana program also requires immunization for yellow fever, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever, and you must have your malaria pills. Please talk to your family doctor if you have any condition(s) that can affect your travel or affect the immunization requirements.

There are wonderful and good hospitals in Ghana, and we know this from 26 years of taking students there.

All undergraduate and graduate students from JMU and any other accredited post-secondary institution are qualified to participate in the Ghana program.

Ghana is an English-speaking country.

THE GHANA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: 

The Ghana program provides students with diverse cultural experiences. We include local faculty members and specialists from Ghanaian university and non-governmental agencies.

COVID-19 Location Information:

Each country has different requirements upon entry with regard to COVID-19. Please check this website for the most up-to-date information on what is required for the country (or countries) that are part of this program. Please note that this changes often, so we encourage you to check back frequently.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Open to all majors

A promise of good behavior and respect toward peers, faculty and Ghanaian culture!

Students will be required to sign a good behavior contract