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. During the weeks of morning classes at the University of Ghana, students get opportunities to visit local sites on topics presented in the lectures. We also have volunteer opportunities for our students. Students will visit several important national museums, take field trips to the historic Asante kingdom capital of Kumasi, engage with nationally respected NGO-leaders and have opportunity for volunteer/engaged learning.

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.

All students will be required to complete assigned academic readings. Student journals are collected and evaluated by faculty. These writings are also the basis for program discussions. The Ghana program provides students with exciting and rewarding internship placements. In the past 15 year, we have placed students at the following sites:

• Accra (Glona After-school literacy) where your afternoon volunteer site becomes a full day engagement with local underrepresented and undeserved children;
• Accra (New Horizon Special School for Children with autism) where you will work with dedicated staff and teachers
• Accra (Kufuor Presidential Leadership Foundation) where JMU students are the only non-local university students to be placed. You have the opportunity to meet many young Ghanaian college-age scholars.
• Winneba (Municipal Hospital and Health Sciences/Care experiences) where you will shadow doctors and nurses at the hospital and to the community to provide health services and education.

Program = 2 courses = 6 credits

Internship = 1 course = 3 credits

Progam & Internship = 3 courses = 9 credits

Location Description

Ghana was the first country south of the Sahara in Africa to gain political independence from British colonial rule. Ghana is a democracy where education and freedom of the press are valued and defended. Major airlines, such as United, Delta, British Airways, Brussels Air, Turkish, KLM and many others connect. Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana was also the historic capital of the Asante Kingdom. Our trips Cape Coast and Elmina will take us for visits to two of the well-preserved United Nations Heritage Trust Slave Castles in Africa. Dr. Owusu-Ansah, the founder of the Ghana Summer Program at JMU is also know for his scholarship of the country and is the author of the series of editions of the Ghana Historical Dictionary. In other words, JMU knows Ghana! Ghana is a peaceful, democratic African country with a history of welcoming its guests!

Director

4-Week Program Director: Ogundipe Adebayo | ogundiaa@jmu.edu | Engineering

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

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. Our hotels in Accra, Ho, Kumasi and Elmina have swimming pools and conference rooms.

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 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.

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

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.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Open to all majors and class levels

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

Students will be required to sign a good behavior contract