A three-member delegation from the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) paid a courtesy call on the ambassador of Lebanon in Ghana, His Excellency Maher Kheir, at the Lebanese Embassy in Accra. The courtesy call was to show solidarity and to commiserate with him and the people of Lebanon as they go through a difficult period as a result of the raging war between Lebanon and Israel.
The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, who led the delegation, was accompanied by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Winston Abroampa and the Director of Public Affairs, Ms. Nana Efua Rockson.
Exchanging pleasantries, Prof. Opoku Mensah, noted the immense support the Lebanese Embassy and community has provided for UniMAC. From his Rector days at the Ghana Institute of Journalism to date. He recounted how, year on year, students are given sponsorships and scholarships as they go through various programmes of study, a tradition that has continued to today’s UniMAC. The Vice-Chancellor remarked that, “our relationship with you and the Lebanese community is not based on creed or culture but purely borne out of a passion for excellence in higher education and care for the advancement of our institution. So, if today, Lebanon is facing serious humanitarian crisis, it behooves us to come show that we also care and hope to see an end to the suffering of the people of Lebanon”.
His Excellency, Ambassador Maher Kheir was full of gratitude for the gesture shown by UniMAC. He recounted the scale of suffering of his people and how close to One Million Five Hundred Thousand (1.5 million) out of the Lebanese population of four (4) million people are displaced back home in Lebanon as a result of the war. He further indicated how the humanitarian situation is so bad that people cannot find portable drinking water and basic necessities for basic living. In a reflective mode, he remarked, “I have lost close family members and it is sad how I cannot do much to help the situation back home”.
Prof. Opoku Mensah, encouraged the diplomat to continue making an impact as the supposed little he is doing is changing lives. He also went on to congratulate His Excellency Kheir, on his receipt of two awards – the humanitarian award and special recognition award. The Humanitarian award was for his “Outstanding Voice of Impact” as an ambassador at the 5th edition of the Humanitarian Awards Global in Accra and the special recognition award was for him being named among the 100 “Ghana’s Most Influential People” organized by the Business Executive Group.
The meeting ended with pleasant exchanges as the delegation discussed upcoming events at UniMAC and plans for the Christmas break.
The important thing worth noting is that the Lebanese Embassy has for several years expanded its educational scholarship programme to cover students in UniMAC in the disciplines of Public Relations, Languages, Performing Arts, Film and Television and Translation.
UniMAC is a merger of the erstwhile Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) and the Ghana Institute of Languages by an Act of Parliament 2020 (Act 1059). The Act envisages a holding University with constituent Institutes with the power to award degrees of the holding University. UniMAC is uniquely positioned to deliver excellence in Media, Arts and Communications education at the tertiary level.