Akua’s academic interests include conflict studies, migration, and identity politics. At Yale, these interests led Akua to co-found Yale’s first African development conference and serve as Secretary General and later President of the organization. She also volunteered with the Yale Refugee Project to support a local refugee family in New Haven. Her passion for refugee work (and for travel) took Akua to Geneva, Switzerland where she researched the impact of conflict on refugee communities. During her semester abroad, Akua worked in Paris for the Human Rights League as a legal intern. While in Paris, Akua also interned with U.R.A.C.A, to provide social services to African immigrants in the city. Akua enjoys singing, trying new foods, and reading. She is so thankful for the opportunity to work, live, and learn in Tanzania; while there, she can’t wait to learn some Swahili and pick up some Tanzanian dance moves.
The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999. Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.