Accra, Jan 02, GNA- The Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) on Friday formalised a collaboration with Ghanaian Scholars in the Diaspora (GSD) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to harness global intellectual capital for national advancement.
The MoU signed in Accra, is designed to channel the specialised knowledge of Ghanaian postgraduate students in the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Hungary, and China into practical, innovative solutions for the Group’s diverse operations, directly contributing to Ghana’s socio-economic growth.
The MoU was signed by JGC’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, alongside the leaders of the seven GSD country associations, marking a concerted effort to translate academic research into real-world development impact.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Dr. Siaw Agyepong emphasised that the initiative’s scope extended beyond the Jospong Group, declaring that “this is for Ghana.”
He announced the establishment of a dedicated office with an independent employed Coordinator and Administrator, assuring that, “Jospong will not manage them, but only sponsor and facilitate their work.”
He described the partnership as a future “national platform” designed to attract many more Ghanaian scholars worldwide to contribute to national development.
To ensure its sustainability, the Executive Chairman disclosed plans to liaise with prominent business leaders, including Ibrahim Mahama, Kasapreko, and Despite, to enlist their support for the initiative.
He encouraged the scholars, to pursue the endeavour with serious commitment and urged them to invest their knowledge for the betterment of Ghana.
The President of the Ghanaian Students Association in Hungary, who also serves as Secretary of GSD, Mr. Peter Worlasi Adanu, commended Dr. Siaw Agyepong and the Jospong Group for spearheading the venture.
“We are very grateful and excited by this significant step, and, on behalf of the GSD, I want to pledge our full commitment and support ensuring that the objective of this MoU is met for the positive transformation of Ghana,” he added.
He called on all Ghanaians especially government to support this good initiative to achieve its desired goals.
Earlier, in a welcome address to the newly partnered GSD, Mrs. Florence Larbi, Chief Operating Officer of the Environmental Service Cluster of the Jospong Group of Companies, emphasised that true business growth stemmed from purpose and innovation, and not just profit.
Speaking to an assembly of Master’s and PhD students from seven countries, Mrs. Larbi reflected on the Group’s humble beginnings as a small printing press in 1995, which had now expanded into a conglomerate of over 60 companies, adding that, “We have grown roughly every five years,” attributing the success to continuous evolution and diversification.
She revealed that the partnership with the GSD was inspired by the Group’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Siaw Agyepong, following a visit to Japan.
“Observing Japanese students engaged in structured, hands-on, and multi-disciplinary training, he envisioned a similar model of practical learning for Ghana. He expressed a strong desire to connect with people who could bring him closer to this vision,” Mrs. Larbi noted.
She praised the diaspora scholars for their confidence and global perspective, highlighting the unique opportunity their research presented, saying, “When you look at our group, there is hardly any industry we are not involved in. We are everywhere,” she said. “That raises an important question: what kinds of ideas are we developing, and how can we turn them into real business opportunities?”
Mrs. Larbi challenged the scholars to align their research with tangible business outcomes. “Every idea and every research project should aim to either solve a problem or help build a new product or service line—something we can push forward, grow, and scale,” she urged.
She noted that the Group was focused on ensuring research translating into practical value and avoiding being shelved and commended the scholars for dedicating their time to the partnership.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei