The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited Imperial Global Ghana to meet some of Imperial's inspiring innovators, students and entrepreneurs.
The Mayor took part in a fireside chat with Ghanaian youth leaders and entrepreneurs at the event hosted by Imperial Global Ghana at the University of Ghana in Accra.
Invited attendees included representatives from other Imperial partners from the country including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Cape Coast, the University of Development Studies and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).
The event also featured a start-up showcase whose founders were all part of the flagship Student Venture Support Programme (SVSP) run in partnership by Imperial and University of Ghana.
The Mayor was visiting Ghana as part of a trade mission to Africa to deepen partnerships and promote two-way exchange between London and countries across the continent.
During the trip the Mayor emphasised that London is open to global talent and he made the positive case for international study.
The Mayor said: "It was a privilege to address students today at the University of Ghana about the immense value international students bring to London and the UK, brought together by Imperial College London and their new hub in Accra, Imperial Global Ghana. We spoke about innovation, entrepreneurship and the power of education to connect people to drive change in London, Accra and beyond."
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, said: "Imperial Global Ghana creates a bridge between London and Accra so you get a flow of ideas, talent and capital.
"The hub supports hundreds of entrepreneurs and scientists in West Africa and enables talented students to further their studies in London.
"International students are an essential part of Imperial's global community. They bring diverse perspectives, new ideas, and fresh approaches to tackling today's most complex challenges. We are pleased that London and the UK remains a top destination and welcoming environment for international students."
Ghana's innovators
During the visit the Mayor took part in a discussion with alumni and entrepreneurs to explore topics on innovation and start up ecosystems.
The discussion was led with Luther Jesse Quarshie, CEO and founder of AgriMercarb and Shirgade Laryea (Msc Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management, 2019), a Senior Trade Services Manager at the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce in Accra.
Luther was one of the first cohort of the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025.
The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is an accelerator programme for the world's most promising startups. The initiative was developed by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC) in partnership with Imperial Enterprise Lab and Imperial Global Ghana
Luther is also a University of Ghana alumnus. Luther is tackling the urban and rural waste crisis in Ghana where up to 60% of waste is organic, by using black soldier fly larvae to transform organic waste into high-quality animal feed and organic fertilizer.
"With a young, energetic population and space for innovation, Ghana is a great place to test new ideas, launch projects, and really see your impact." Shirgade Laryea Imperial Business School alumna
Shirgade, an Imperial Business School alumna and an advocate for the Ghana Food Movement initiative, said: "Ghana is full of opportunity. Something that feels very mundane in the UK could be the idea that moves the needle here in Ghana.
"With a young, energetic population and space for innovation, Ghana is a great place to test new ideas, launch projects, and really see your impact."
Some of Ghana's leading startups presented their innovative companies and ideas to the Mayor as part of a showcase.
- AgriMercarb
- Mchan Cosmetics Limited
- UpCraft
- Firefly IO
Imperial Global Ghana
Imperial Global Ghana is a research, education and innovation hub based in Accra and through local and regional partnerships supports hundreds of entrepreneurs and scientists in West Africa. The Accra hub is part of Imperial's Global network with other hubs in San Francisco, USA, Bengaluru, India and Singapore.
"At Imperial Global Ghana our focus is on building long-term equitable research and education partnerships." Clare Turner Associate Director at Imperial Global Ghana
Imperial is the first UK university to have a permanent base solely focused on science, technology and innovation in Africa, building on the rapid increase in the number of scientific advancements and breakthroughs by Imperial researchers working with researchers in Ghana in recent years.
The hub also supports talented students from Ghana and West Africa to spend time in Imperial's London campus working on new discoveries in areas such as artificial intelligence, public health and sustainability.
Clare Turner, Associate Director at Imperial Global Ghana, said: "A truly global city, and its universities, thrive when people with different cultural, social, and intellectual perspectives come together.
"At Imperial Global Ghana our focus is on building long-term equitable research and education partnerships that both inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators, and work towards a greater understanding of complex global challenges, such as climate change, the energy transition and access to quality healthcare."
Imperial's long-standing links with the University of Ghana
Last year, Imperial and the University of Ghana formed a partnership to expand collaborations in research and education.
"We are especially proud of our collaboration with Imperial, one that continues to thrive." Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana
The five-year partnership will see the two universities explore cooperation in areas such as digital diagnostics, innovation and entrepreneurship, public health, environmental sustainability, and vaccine manufacturing.
The agreement sees increased mobility of scientists and students between Imperial and the University of Ghana – with researchers spending time in each other's laboratories in London and Accra, working on joint projects and sharing knowledge and data.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, said: "It is a great honour to welcome the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to Ghana and to the University of Ghana. His presence underscores the growing importance of global partnerships in shaping the future of education and innovation.
"We are especially proud of our collaboration with Imperial, one that continues to thrive through initiatives such as the Impact Hub and other areas such as digital diagnostics, innovation and entrepreneurship, public health, environmental sustainability, and vaccine manufacturing clearly stipulated in a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024.
"This innovative cooperation is hinged on UG's five Strategic Priorities, that is Transformative Student Experience, Impactful Research, Commitment to our Faculty and Staff, Engagement and Partnerships as well as Sustainable Resource Mobilisation and Stewardship.
"We look forward to deepening these ties as we empower the next generation of changemakers on the continent and beyond."
Imperial Global Connect Fund now open!
Imperial College London staff can apply for up to £12,000 to kickstart meaningful, long-term partnerships in research, education and innovation linked to one of our hubs.
The Global Connect Fund supports academics, researchers and professional services staff at Imperial looking to establish impactful partnerships in Ghana, India, Singapore and USA.
In Ghana, past collaborations between Imperial College London have explored medical diagnostics, vaccine research, AI and data science.
Apply before Tuesday 2 September and find out more about the fund
