The California Community Colleges (CCC) system, under the leadership of Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian, is collaborating with the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND) and the University of Ghana (UG) to establish a Pan-African Virtual College.
Envisioned as a transformative initiative, the Pan-African Virtual College aims to create an innovative and accessible educational network connecting Ghanaian higher education institutions with CCC. It seeks to facilitate cross-continental exchanges while promoting Africa-centred pedagogy and technical career expertise.
The plans were unveiled during a meeting hosted at the University of Ghana, where representatives of CCC, A²MEND and UG officials gathered to deepen partnerships.
In a brief statement delivered on her behalf, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System, Dr. Sonya Christian, noted that the University of Ghana has been a strategic partner in education and the system is looking to build on existing initiatives.
She mentioned that the growing educational landscape requires international collaborations that harness resources and expertise across borders to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Officials of California Community Colleges System present at the meeting
Dr. Christian expressed strong enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “I truly believe that this critically important alliance will allow our system to establish an inclusive, scalable educational model that bridges African and American educational experiences.”
On her part, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, remarked that it was interesting to learn about the partnerships being led by the College of Education. She noted that the visit was timely, coinciding with the University’s implementation of its new Strategic Plan, which focuses on engagement and partnerships.
Prof. Amfo stressed the importance of ensuring that collaborations are bi-directional and mutually beneficial, providing value to all partners involved. She further detailed that while formalising partnerships through MoUs is important, it is even more critical that set goals are actively pursued and achieved.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo
She commended the California Community Colleges System as one that holds promise and assured the University’s continued commitment to providing an enabling environment to facilitate partnerships for students, faculty, staff and research initiatives.
Prof. Amfo highlighted the role of the University’s School of Distance and Continuing Education in expanding access to education across Ghana. She reaffirmed UG’s strategic focus on engagement and partnerships and pledged full support for the realisation of the Pan-African Virtual College vision. “We’re looking for partnerships that empower students and faculty on both sides. This can only succeed if we both benefit equally, building something truly collaborative and lasting.” Prof. Amfo stated.
Dr. Edward Bush, President of Cosumnes River College and Chair of the All-African Diaspora Educational Summit (ADES), extended appreciation to the College of Education for facilitating ongoing research and education collaborations between UG and the California Community Colleges System.
Speaking: Dr. Edward Bush, President of Cosumnes River College and Chair of the All-African Diaspora Educational Summit (ADES)
Dr. Bush acknowledged that international education within their system is currently limited and stressed the need to expand these opportunities. Commenting on the CCC Chancellor’s vision to promote international education and welcome international students, he indicated that efforts are underway to leverage online education to expand access for students.
Dr. Bush also discussed plans to introduce a Pan-African Virtual College, using education as a tool for liberation and empowerment. He further underscored the importance of international education for CCC students, particularly those from diverse, lower-income backgrounds, noting that expanding access to global learning opportunities is essential for their success in an interconnected world.
Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe (first from left) speaking during the meeting
The Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, expressed excitement about the collaborations over the past years, which have helped shape the design of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise relations and ensure the partnerships are successful and sustainable.
He expressed hope that the MoU would be signed soon to allow for the full implementation of collaborative activities.
Delivering closing remarks at the meeting, the College Registrar, Mr. Joseph Oduro Nkansah, expressed optimism that the partnerships, which have already resulted in conferences and other engagements, would continue to grow. He added that efforts are underway to facilitate the establishment of the Pan-African Virtual College.
Discussions at the meeting explored key areas of mutual interest, including study abroad programmes, scholarship opportunities, conferences and initiatives to strengthen Africa-focused education. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of UG and CCC to advancing global academic cooperation and leveraging education as a catalyst for innovation, equity and sustainable development.
Some faculty members from the College of Education
It also built on past collaborations, including the successful All-African Diaspora Educational Summit (ADES) hosted in September 2024, with plans already underway for the next summit in 2026.
Other officials from CCC
Present at the meeting were Dr. Elizier T. Ameyaw-Buronyah, Director of Public Affairs at the University of Ghana; Chris Ferguson, Executive Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Strategic Initiatives at California Community Colleges; Pam Haynes, former President of the Board of Governors for CCC; Dr. Abdulmanek Bull, Vice-Chancellor of Institutional Equity and Impact at CCC as well as faculty and staff members from the College of Education.