KAIPTC Alumni extol value of Academic Programmes at Maiden Homecoming Event

At a well-attended inaugural Alumni Homecoming event held at KAIPTC on 20 July, several alumni took turns to share the impact of the post-graduate programmes in their personal and professional lives since completion. The event featured keynote speakers and alumni such as Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications, Hon. Gifty Ohene-Konadu, National Coordinator for the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme at the Office of the President, and Mr. Seth Kwame Boateng, Broadcast Journalist, and Past Ghana Journalist of the year. The event was held under the theme “Reconnecting and Networking for Peace and Security”.

The purpose for holding the event was to update the Alumni on contemporary global issues in peace and security, build linkages to enable sharing of ideas and promoting mutual support, and also to deepen the sense of belongingness through interactions and networking of past/present students, and staff of KAIPTC.

In his speech, the Guest of Honour, H.E. Christoph Retzlaff, German Ambassador to Ghana noted that KAIPTC is well known in Germany as a Centre of Excellence in peace support operations. He urged the Alumni to actively contribute to the progress of KAIPTC, especially as brand ambassadors for the Centre.

Hon Owusu-Ekuful indicated that her enrollment into the Executive Masters in Conflict, Peace and Security (EMCPS) programme was a life-changing experience for her, and expressed her deepest gratitude for the opportunity to deepen her knowledge and skills in peace and security. Speaking on the topic ‘Cyber and National Security: Perspectives and Challenges and the Role of education/KAIPTC’, she outlined the risks individuals and the society at large faces, and are often oblivious of, when it comes to the issue of cyber security. She urged KAIPTC to undertake further research in cyber security to inform and guide government in its policies, and continue equipping practitioners with the necessary skills and knowledge.

The Very Rev. Prof Emmanuel Asante, an alumni, shared that undertaking the programme helped him to effectively carry out his mandate as the National Peace Council Chair; Mr. Seth Kwame Boateng on his part, vividly explained how understanding the nuances in conflict was invaluable to his production of the documentaries on Bunkpurugu and Nkpanduri.

The event had continuing students such as Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Mr. Irbard Ibrahim, Ms. Marian Toure, and Rev Albert Botchway, from the Executive Masters in Conflict, Peace and Security (EMCPS) programme, the Masters in Conflict, Peace and Security programme, the Master in Gender, Peace and Security programme, and the PhD in International Conflict Management respectively, also sharing their motivations for their academic pursuits, and the benefits therein.

One objective of the event was to discuss the modalities for forming an Alumni Association; to this end, a foundational group was constituted comprising past course representatives, who will subsequently determine structures and activities to formalize the association.

Since receiving accreditation in 2011, KAIPTC’s post-graduate academic programmes have been patronized by high caliber personnel from varied backgrounds such as security and intelligence services, government, members of national parliaments, diplomatic corps and civil society organizations from 26 countries in Africa and beyond.