President Mills visits Alma Mater

President John Evans Mills last Friday, as part of his three-day official visit to Britain, paid a visit to the London School of Economics (LSE) where he studied law in 1968.

The President is the third Ghanaian alumnus of the school to become Head of State of Ghana, after Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr Hilla Limann. There are about 270 Ghanaian alumni of the LSE.

Speaking to staff and students including a large number of Ghanaians, President Mills recalled his days at the school where he studied at the Law Department for his Law LLM in 1968.

"It is nice to be back. I recall with nostalgia when in 1967, I enrolled here to read law. I am grateful for the opportunity offered me to acquire knowledge and very proud to be associated with LSE," he said.

President Mills said the stature of LSE had made it the breeding ground for Ghanaian presidents and was confident that he would live up to the task and make his Alma Mater proud to have once again produced another president.

He called on the staff and students to continue to hold high the torch that was lit by their forebearers to ensure that the school remains one of the most respected institutions of higher learning in the world.

Narrowing in on Ghanaian students studying at the school, President Mills encouraged them to study hard to acquire the necessary professional skills that would benefit the country.

Earlier, the President was briefed on a new programme called the African Initiative which was launched by LSE to engage African institutions and scholars collectively to develop accessibility and promote international knowledge exchange.

To be led in the chair by an African scholar, Professor Thandika Mkandawire, currently the Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, the African Initiative is also expected to inspire and support generations of students and scholars who will themselves help to effect global change.

Furthermore, the Initiative is expected to be the pivotal element in the reinvigoration of the African research at LSE and in the increased visibility of Africa within the social sciences and on the global public stage.

Dr Simon Diaz, Deputy Director of the school, who briefed President Mills on the new initiative said the school continued to attract many Ghanaians as members of staff and mentioned Professor Gobind Nankani as the latest Ghanaian to join as the Executive Director of the International Growth Centre.

The centre will provide practical help to governments of developing countries to support growth and improve their ability to cope with effects of the economic downturn as well as provide innovative research on growth.

President Mills, who was full of praise for LSE for its initiatives, promised to support them, returned home last night.

He was accompanied by the First Lady, Naadu Mills and some high-level government officials.