A delegation from the Italian Embassy in Ghana, led by Her Excellency Ambassador Laura Ranalli, has paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, to strengthen collaboration on entrepreneurship and skills development.
The meeting, held on Friday, March 27, 2026, focused on building strategic partnerships to equip students with relevant skills and expand opportunities for innovation and enterprise.
Welcoming the delegation, Professor Mawutor emphasised the University’s strong commitment to entrepreneurship as a key pillar in addressing graduate unemployment.
He noted that empowering students with practical and entrepreneurial skills remains central to his personal vision and UPSA’s mission.
“Entrepreneurship is an area we want to focus on strongly. It forms part of our broader efforts to empower our graduates and reduce unemployment,” Prof Mawutor stated.
The Vice-Chancellor further highlighted that initiatives such as the INSPIRE project, funded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development, closely align with his vision of producing graduates who are innovative and capable of creating jobs rather than solely seeking employment.
“To entrench this vision, the University under my leadership has introduced a mandatory course in entrepreneurship and ethics for all first-year students. This initiative is aimed at equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and not just degrees,” he added.
The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Laura Ranalli, expressed her satisfaction with the growing partnership between the Italian Embassy and UPSA, commending the University’s forward-looking approach to education.
She noted that UPSA’s commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only employable but also innovative and entrepreneurial is commendable and aligns with broader development priorities.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Dean of the UPSA School of Graduate Studies, Dr Michael Mickson, reaffirmed the School’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Italian partners, particularly in advancing graduate-level research and capacity-building initiatives.
The visit underscores the shared commitment between UPSA and its international partners to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development through education and strategic partnerships.
Members of the Italian Embassy delegation included Timothy Dolan, Head of the Economic, Private Sector and Trade Section at the European Union Delegation to Ghana; Emanuela Forcella, Director of the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development; and Mr Saviour Agortimevor, E4Impact Country Lead for Ghana.
