While You're There

Thank you for your interest in NYU Accra’s Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, and Equity (IDBE) efforts! Check below to learn more about our unique and site-specific opportunities and resources.

IDBE Liaison

The liaison is your go-to person for all things IDBE in Accra if you want to get involved or just chat!

Global Equity Fellow

The Global Equity Fellow (GEF) is your student representative on issues of IDBE. Stay tuned for their events and programs!

Allujanatt Ajao, NYU Accra

Hi everyone. My name is Allujanatt Ajao. The correct way to anticipate my name is (Al-jah-nah), but everyone calls me Allu. I am a junior at CAS majoring in Global Public Health and Anthropology, but I also minor in Africana Studies. I’m a pre-med student. I am the product of Nigerian and Ghanian parents. I am super excited to be one of your Global Equity Fellows and cannot wait to show you all parts of my country, Ghana. I enjoy cooking, watching tv, taking film pictures, and exploring.

To study away in Ghana is a blessing because this is one of the many ways I intend to give back to the place that raised part of my family. When people typically think of Africa they immediately associate it with poverty, but Accra, Ghana is one of the most developed cities in Africa. As beautiful and wealthy as Accra, Ghana is, I will not shy away from showing Ghana as a whole. I intend to foster a friendship with you all, but also the people of the land.

Through my community service work, I grew an interest in public health mainly because this field will allow me to implement effective mechanisms to bridge the gap between different socioeconomic racial groups and their access to quality affordable healthcare. I always aim to give back and with this intention I intend to delve into the field of cardiology as a way to be a primary caretaker for the black community. I can think of no better place to fulfill my passions in Ghana than with you all.

As a fellow I intend to facilitate safe spaces for us to gather and share our experiences. I am excited to begin this journey with you all. As I love to say “prepare to be sick of me”!

Religion & Spiritual Life

The staff at NYU Accra is available to help students find the necessary resources for their religious and/or spiritual needs. This includes accommodating dietary needs, an absence for a religious holiday and finding places for worship and meditation.

Religion and Spiritual Life at NYU Accra

During orientation students will learn about various religions in Ghana with one of our highly regarded professors from the University of Ghana. Additionally, NYU sponsors a trip to northern Ghana where students have the opportunity to visit a mosque, a center for inter-religious dialogue and some selected traditional spiritualists in the city of Tamale.

Ramadan Resources and Interfaith Celebrations

Giving students the opportunity to celebrate their religious holidays is a crucial component of NYU Accra’s commitment to IDBE. To learn about all the holidays happening during your time abroad, we recommend you to check out The Diversity Awareness Partnership’s calendar of observances and holidays celebrated across 25 traditions (PDF).

Because Ramadan is coinciding with our academic calendar this year, we wanted to provide additional resources on how you can worship and observe fast throughout it. Here’s a little of what you can expect:

The Ghana Police Mosque is 15-minute walk from the Academic Center and welcomes students who wish to go there to pray
Programming will take into account fast schedules and make changes to dates/times accordingly to make sure all students can attend

Stay tuned for more celebration-specific information!

Worship and Meditation Space

Students are often able to find Christian and Muslim places of worship. Most places of worship are open to the public and students are generally warmly welcomed. Jewish students have faced challenges finding a synagogue, but they have organized Shabbat dinners and other festivities. The restaurants in the meal plan have been able to accommodate dietary needs for religious holidays, and all students have enjoyed these special meals.

There are a few yoga and meditation centers in Accra. Students have free access to Pippa’s Gym and can take yoga classes. Students have also gone to Bliss Yoga Studio where they may sign up for group classes, private instruction, consultations, retreats and workshops. All levels are welcome and a fee is usually required.

Religious Accommodations

Students may excuse themselves from class for a religious holiday. They must notify their instructor and the NYU Accra Academic Office at least one week in advance. More details will be provided during the orientation in Accra. NYU Accra can provide information to students about religious and spiritual life resources, places of worship and/or meditation space, and related support services.

Dietary Considerations: Students at NYU Accra have a meal plan for dinners Monday through Friday, as well as light breakfast items provided in the residence. Students should note dietary restrictions in their housing application. Buka serves mostly traditional Nigerian and Ghanaian food, and Sunshine serves anything from Indian to Mediterranean food. At both restaurants, there can be gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options upon request. You may also find these options in the supermarket, but unlike NYC, it is more limited. The staff will also direct you to a few restaurants that may satisfy your dietary needs.

Questions to Keep In Mind

You may also want to reflect on the role religion and/or spirituality play in your life now, and what your expectations or needs are for your time away. Questions to consider:

Do you have a strong connection and/or sense of belonging to a religious or spiritual group?
Do you have a prayer or meditation space?
Do you go to certain places for dietary needs?
Do you celebrate certain holidays? Are these holidays you would want to celebrate during study away?

Get Involved!

There are many ways to get invovled with IDBE initatives happening at NYU Accra from joing our group organzations to taking courses that discuss IDBE topics.

NYU Accra DEI Council

NYU Accra’s DEI Council is an action-oriented body comprised of members of the NYU Accra community. The primary purpose of this council is to advance diversity and inclusion efforts at NYU Accra.

Conversation Series at NYU Accra

NYU Accra has a student conversation series. Students, on a bi-weekly basis have the opportunity to lead a convening on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These meetings have been attended by both faculty and staff.

Technology Loaner Services

NYU Accra’s technology loaner services, though limited, is available to provide loaner technology devices to students with financial need.

Diverse Course Offerings

For a full list of the courses offered at NYU Accra please see the course list page.

African Women Speak
Cocoa and Gold: Ghana's Development in Global Perspective
History of West Africa
Methods and Practice: Reporting Africa
Journalism and Society: Cultural Contexts and African Media
African Popular Music
Documenting the African City
Global Connections Accra
Society, Culture, and Modernization in Ghana
Colonialism and the Rise of Modern African Literature
Topics: Globalization and the Developing World
International Nutrition: The African Perspective