American travel entrepreneur Crystal Dyer is seeking to expand educational exchanges and diaspora tourism in Ghana following the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with several Ghanaian universities and colleges to facilitate international academic opportunities for students and lecturers.
The initiative, which combines international education with cultural tourism, is expected to create opportunities for Ghanaian students and lecturers to participate in educational programmes in the United States while attracting more American students to Ghana.
Dyer, founder of Gone Again Travel & Tours, disclosed the plans during a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura, Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, in Damongo in the Savannah Region on Monday, October 12, 2026.
She said her team was working to incorporate an accredited college programme into its Ghana tours to expand educational opportunities for American students and strengthen academic exchanges between the two countries.
According to her, partnerships with colleges and universities in Ghana and the United States could generate economic opportunities for northern Ghana and the country as a whole.
The programme also presents potential business opportunities for tourism operators, hotels, restaurants, transport providers and other service businesses that could benefit from increased international student travel.
Universities, colleges sign MoUs
Mohammed Muniru Cosmos, chief executive officer of Ndewura’s Travel and Tour and co-chair of the Northern Ghana Diaspora Association, said MoUs had been signed with participating Ghanaian tertiary institutions as part of efforts to establish the academic exchange programme.
He explained that preparations began towards the end of 2025, when efforts were made to mobilise universities and colleges for the initiative.
Further engagements were held earlier in 2026 with institutions including the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Tamale Technical University, Ho Technical University, Savannah College of Education and Damongo Agricultural College.
The MoU signings began with UDS in Tamale on Friday, followed by Tamale Technical University on Saturday and Ho Technical University.
Other institutions that signed agreements included Accra College of Education, the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Kumasi Technical University, the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Technical University and Koforidua Technical University.
Cosmos said the programme was intended to create opportunities for students and lecturers from participating Ghanaian institutions to undertake educational programmes in the United States.
He added that students from colleges could also benefit from transfer arrangements that would enable them to progress to university-level education.
Travel company targets educational and cultural tourism
Dyer’s initiative builds on her experience in group travel, cultural tourism and educational travel, particularly programmes connecting African Americans with African history and heritage.
Gone Again Travel & Tours, which was established in 1999, specialises in group travel, family holidays and customised travel arrangements. The company describes itself as the first African American-owned brick-and-mortar travel agency in Chicago’s Austin community.
Beyond her commercial travel operations, Dyer founded Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures, a non-profit organisation that promotes cultural exposure and educational experiences for young people.
The organisation uses travel and cultural immersion to expose young people to different societies, histories and learning opportunities while supporting youth development.
Dyer said she had been bringing American high school students to Ghana for the past eight years, with visits to northern Ghana forming part of the programme over the last three years.
She described northern Ghana as an important destination for African diaspora travellers seeking to understand the history of the transatlantic slave trade and reconnect with their African heritage.
Gonja Kingdom requests library and museum
During her meeting with the Yagbonwura, Dyer said the Gonja Kingdom had requested support for the establishment of a library and a museum.
She pledged to return to the United States, share details of the meeting with relevant stakeholders and explore collaborations to help fulfil the request.
Dyer said she was honoured to meet the traditional ruler after three previous unsuccessful attempts to secure an audience.
During an earlier visit in June 2026, she received the traditional name “Mapuchi”. Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, who chairs the Higher Education Appropriations Committee in Springfield, also received a traditional name and traditional garments during the visit, according to Dyer.
She said Ford had promised to explore policy changes in Washington that could facilitate educational exchanges and enable more Ghanaian students to study in the United States.
The proposed changes would require further engagement with relevant authorities to establish the specific policies and processes involved.
Diaspora partnerships offer opportunities for northern Ghana
The initiative highlights the potential of diaspora engagement to support international education, cultural tourism and local economic development.
Through its travel operations and youth-focused programmes, Dyer’s organisation seeks to connect American students with African history and culture. The newly signed agreements with Ghanaian institutions could provide an additional platform for developing structured educational exchanges.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
