Abuakwa South Municipality is positioning itself as Ghana’s biggest hub for educational tourism, with plans set to host its first cohort of 200 American student interns in July 2026.
The initiative is under a major international exchange programme being spearheaded by Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang.
Described as a multimillion-dollar educational tourism drive, the initiative—being implemented in partnership with US-based non-profit organisation Journey to Destiny Ministries (JTDM) and the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education—is aimed at deepening cross-cultural engagement between students in Kyebi and their counterparts in the United States, particularly from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The planned arrival of the students in July this year follows a two-day assessment visit by a delegation from Journey to Destiny Ministries to evaluate the municipality’s readiness to host the programme. The team inspected academic and residential facilities at the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education and toured key tourism attractions, including the Bunso Eco Park, the Okyenhene’s Palace, and the SOS Children’s Village in Asiakwa, where they donated educational materials and funds for the upkeep of the facility.
Speaking after the tour, President of Journey to Destiny Ministries, Felicia Foster, expressed confidence in the preparedness of the institution and the broader community to host the programme.
“We’ve been here now for two days. We’ve interacted actively with the students, we’ve seen the grounds, we’ve seen the levels of education that the students are getting, and so we’re confident the students from America will get high-quality education and interaction, safety, care from the staff and the principal. So we’re very confident that students will get a great experience when they come to this global internship.”
The delegation also held discussions with the Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Addo Aikins, who pledged the Assembly’s full support to ensure the success of the initiative.
“We’re going to give you every support to ensure that this collaboration benefits not only students from the US but also students from the Abuakwa Municipality.”
He further highlighted the historical significance of the area and assured of the safety and readiness of the municipality to host international students.
“It is important to note that Abuakwa South is a key city that played a key role in shaping Ghana’s political history, and it is just proper that such a huge educational collaboration begins from here. So you’re welcome, and we will support it with all the might we have. Rest assured that whoever is coming here is very safe and we will provide all the security and everything needed to let them have a great experience.”
The partnership between Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education, and Journey to Destiny Ministries is expected to evolve into a long-term educational tourism programme, delivering academic, cultural, and economic benefits to both Ghana and the United States.
Principal of the College, Rev. Dr. Charles Fosu-Ayarkwa, described the initiative as a transformative opportunity for students on both sides of the exchange.
“I think the purpose and the impulse of the collaboration is about having cross-cultural programs and faculty exchanges whereby students from Memphis, Tennessee, will be coming to have internships, teach, or do social work. And in the future, our students will also have the chance to travel to Memphis to do the same over there, so it is a win-win case.”
He added that the first group of students is expected to arrive mid-year.
“The anticipation is that by July this year, 200-plus students will be coming from Memphis to join our students for the second semester. They are likely to spend about three weeks, and then next year July, students from Presbyterian College of Education will also travel to Memphis for the same objective.”
In 2025 alone, US federal government support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) crossed $1.3 billion, with nearly half a billion dollars added as a major funding boost for that year.
Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, whose efforts secured the partnership in 2025 in the United States, says the broader vision is to tap into the nearly 400,000 students across HBCUs to build a sustainable educational tourism pipeline for Ghana.
“Tapping into close to 400,000 students from the HBCUs to visit Ghana under this collaboration will not only benefit our students education-wise, it will also help create a huge $500 million tourism industry for our country, and that’s the drive for me and the partners.”
The first batch of approximately 200 American students is expected to arrive in Ghana in July 2026, marking the beginning of what stakeholders believe could become a major boost for both education and tourism in the Abuakwa South Municipality.
