On his first official working visit to Africa, the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, praised the University of Ghana as a “special place” with a vibrant spirit of innovation and enterprise and called for deeper international partnerships to support the next generation of student entrepreneurs and researchers.

Speaking at a landmark lecture co-hosted by the University of Ghana and Imperial College London’s Ghana Hub, the Mayor emphasised that investing in student-led innovation is critical to economic growth and global problem-solving. “It’s a privilege to work with Imperial and the University of Ghana,” he said. “This is a special place, full of energy, ambition and talent. I’ve been inspired by the bold ideas I’ve heard from young entrepreneurs here, ideas that can shape industries and transform lives.”

In his keynote address themed, “The Power of Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, Mayor Khan expressed his firm belief that international cooperation must play a central role in nurturing student potential. “We cannot simply wait for the world to come to us; we must build bridges to the world,” he said. “London is ready to play its part, not as a benefactor, but as a partner in a reciprocal relationship that brings shared benefits.”

The event, held at the auditorium of the West Africa Genetic Medicine Centre, brought together faculty, alumni, students and policymakers to explore how education and enterprise can drive sustainable development. 

Sir Khan intimated that student innovation needs institutional backing and said governments and universities alike must work to keep academic doors open, not close them. “Closing the doors to international students would be an act of economic self-harm,” he warned. “These students bring ideas, spend money, enrich communities and often return home to spark innovation and build lasting international ties.”

In addressing growing concerns over restrictions on international student enrolment, the Mayor firmly cautioned against such moves, urging the UK government not to “pull up the drawbridge” on international students. “There are people at home who believe we should punish universities that choose to welcome people from around the world,” he said. “But our new analysis shows international students bring in tens of billions for our economy each year, including £12.5 billion in London alone. And when they graduate, they go on to make our city and our country a better place to be.”

He further warned that new policies, such as a proposed levy on university income from international students, could discourage enrolment and place additional financial burdens on universities. “Closing our country to global talent would be an act of immense economic self-harm, one that would slow down growth and leave working people in Britain worse off than before,” he said. “On my watch, London will be as open as ever… but I think we must do more.”

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in her welcome address, highlighted the urgent need to address graduate unemployment and champion youth entrepreneurship. “Graduate unemployment remains a burgeoning problem, but micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are proving central to Ghana’s economic future,” she noted. “At UG, we are working to co-create opportunities through partnerships that empower our students.”

Prof. Amfo disclosed that through various projects and collaborations, UG has supported over 400 students and nurtured 115 student-led startups in recent years. “Our goal is to see at least 10 percent of our student population actively involved in entrepreneurship before they graduate,” she stated.

Welcoming the Mayor to campus, she further emphasised the importance of international collaboration. “His presence underscores the growing importance of global partnerships in shaping the future of education and innovation. We look forward to deepening these ties as we empower the next generation of changemakers on the continent and beyond.”

She also highlighted UG’s fruitful collaboration with Imperial College London through its Accra-based Impact Hub. “This innovative cooperation is hinged on our five strategic priorities, including transformative student experience, impactful research, commitment to our faculty and staff, engagement and partnerships, as well as sustainable resource mobilisation and stewardship.”

The event formed part of Mayor Khan’s historic five-day trade mission to Africa, geared towards strengthening economic and educational ties with the continent. His visit also included meetings with recent graduates and Ghanaian alumni of Imperial College London who are making waves in sectors ranging from fintech to public health.