Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana H.E Maher Kheir has highlighted the importance of investing in the arts and cultural fields to promote inter-nation and inter-regional cooperation.
He stressed that countries could develop and deepen bilateral and multilateral ties if arts and culture are seen as powerful tools to advance such causes.
He made the remarks when the Lebanese Community in Ghana awarded prizes to five distinguished students at the University of Ghana.
The five received the prizes as part of the 2022/2023 Vice Chancellor’s academic awards of the University and happened in the presence of the Lebanese Ambassador H.E Maher Kheir, Vice Chancellor Professor Nana Aba Amfo, Dean of the School of Languages, Dean of the School of Performing Arts, Senior State officials, Members of the Diplomatic Community among other dignitaries.
The awards are “The Lebanese Literature Prize” for language students and the “The Lebanese Arts Prize” for performing Arts students.
Both prizes aim at celebrating outstanding art and literature students as part of efforts to encourage more students as well as strengthen cultural cooperation between Lebanon and Ghana.
Winners of this year’s prizes include; Philip Kwadwo Nyanor (Music), Victoria Frema Boakye (Theatre Arts) and Joseph Asare (Dance).
The rest are Zeinab Baseine Sulemana winner of the Lebanese Literature Prize Arabic option and Caleb Setorglo winner of the Lebanese Literature Prize French option.
Every awardee received a prize value of $300 for their distinguished performance in their respective disciplines.
His Excellency Mr. Maher Kheir Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana who presented the prizes noted that the prizes will encourage more students to study languages and arts to boost these sectors.
He believes that the prizes will stimulate healthy competition among students of these faculties for academic excellence.
According to him, arts and languages are the adhesives that unite people and countries.
“We believe that arts and culture can build bridges between nations. For us, artists, writers and poets are the real ambassadors of any country” he stressed.
He adds that arts and literature complement each other and are the bridges that connect people and cultures.
“Arts and Literature complement each other that’s why the Lebanese Community extended its program to include the School of Languages and the School of Performing Arts” he noted.
Ambassador Kheir maintains that this diversity and integration is needed in today’s world which is a global village.
This, he says, will help people embrace each other, remove the barriers between people and deal with injustice.
Vice Chancellor Professor Nana Aba Amfo lauded the awardees for their achievements and urged them to do more in pursuit of academic excellence.
“As you continue to pursue your dreams and aspirations, I urge you to hold on to the values of integrity, respect, commitment and loyalty that the University of Ghana holds dear while you continue to work hard to quench your thirst for knowledge. We are proud of you and look forward to witnessing the incredible impact you will undoubtedly make in our country and the world at large” she noted.
Some of the award winners expressed gratitude to the Lebanese Embassy and the Lebanese Community for the gesture.
“The Lebanese Literature Prize” and “The Lebanese Arts Prize” were mounted for language and performing arts introduced for arts students. As part of efforts to expand the Lebanese Scholarship Programme.
This year’s set of prizes is the third in the series since the awards were instituted three years ago.
The scholarship also covers research for PhD students at the School of Languages.
