Meet Our Scholars

Dear Ms. Felicia Appenteng and members of the Africa-America Institute,

Because of your generous support, Ashesi continues to welcome and unlock opportunities for bright and driven students from across Africa, regardless of their ability to pay tuition. It was truly my pleasure to continue to help select the recipient of the Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship. Thank you for your continued support and helping to transform students’ lives. I also write to share some key highlights from our most recent admissions cycle which I believe reflect your meaningful impact on Ashesi’s ability to provide scholarships and shape our diverse learning community.

Highlights from the Class of 2028 Cohort

In 2024, Ashesi welcomed 406 new undergraduate students—our most diverse class yet— selected from a pool of 2,618 applicants, a 17% increase from last year. The Class of 2028 represents 23 countries, with 19% non-Ghanaian students and 7% from displaced communities, and includes students from 171 different high schools. 47% of the class are women, with women comprising 41% of students in Engineering majors. Our new programs in Economics, Mechatronic Engineering, and Law with Public Policy enrolled their first cohorts. Notably, 43% of students received financial aid, and 25% attend Ashesi at no cost, with full scholarships covering tuition, housing, meals, and stipends. These achievements are possible because of donors, like you, who believe in expanding access and opportunities for students who have the potential to be Africa’s future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Reflections from the Past Year

To support this growth, our Admissions and Financial Aid team engaged in an extraordinary range of outreach—from campus-based events like A Day at Ashesi to regional recruitment trips across Ghana and new international engagement in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and more. Through these efforts, we are increasing awareness about Ashesi’s mission and reaching students from a wide range of backgrounds and regions from across the continent.

Preparing for the Future: Our Graduate Programs

Ashesi is expanding its impact through new graduate programs that equip students to lead Africa’s transformation in business, computing, and engineering. These programs offer a rigorous, world-class education tailored to the continent’s most urgent challenges and greatest opportunities. As we scale our impact, our admissions team is working to recruit young professionals eager to deepen their expertise and drive change in their industries. To ensure access for talented individuals across Africa, we are growing scholarship support at the graduate level. Programs include:

• The Ashesi MBA, focused on ethical and entrepreneurial leadership.

• The Master’s in Intelligent Computing Systems, advancing AI and digital innovation.

• The Master’s in Mechatronic Engineering, developed with ETH Zurich to prepare leaders in robotics and automation.

Our Enduring Gratitude

I hope you share our excitement as we continue to steadily increase our opportunities and increase access to Africa’s next generation of leaders. Your generosity has helped us build a stronger financial aid program. I hope you enjoy this year’s letter from Aimy Daboat ‘28. Our students tell their stories best, and your support has shaped their future.

With deepest appreciation,

Araba Botchway

Executive Director of Admissions & Financial Aid

Ashesi University