On July 22, Fordham Law held its first alumni dinner on African soil to celebrate the launch of the Africa Alumni Chapter of the Fordham Law Alumni Association. Fordham’s Africa Alumni Chapter, the first of its kind of any American law school, is a testament to the Law School’s commitment to and cooperation with the African legal community over the past 20 years. In attendance were over 70 alumni and friends in positions across the legal profession, including judges, private lawyers, academics, government representatives, and civil servants.
The event was aimed at celebrating alumni and friends as well as sharing ideas on advancing Fordham Law’s educational mission and strengthening Fordham’s network and ties on the continent.
The event was hosted under the distinguished patronage of Her Ladyship Justice Georgina T. Wood, the first female and longest serving former chief justice of Ghana. Guests included two other members of the Supreme Court of Ghana, His Lordships Justices Jones Dotse and Nene Amegatcher, as well as several justices of Ghana.
Speaking at the dinner, Chief Justice Wood expressed her gratitude to Fordham Law for its support and cooperation with the Judicial Service of Ghana over the past 15 years, stressing that Fordham’s support contributed to strengthening the delivery of justice in Ghana.
Justice Amegatcher recalled his own experience with Fordham Law—and with former Dean Feerick in particular, an experience that he treasured and hoped would be extended to other members of the judiciary.
Throughout the evening, several alumni paid tribute to Fordham Law, describing how the education they received and the values of the institution shaped their careers in public service.
Ghanaian Deputy Attorney General Diana Asonaba, LL.M. ’11, a former Vivian Leitner Global South Scholar, spoke of her journey to Fordham Law and how the Law School shaped her into the person she is today. “I will never give up Fordham for anything,” she said.
Throughout the evening, several alumni paid tribute to how their Fordham education and the values of the institution shaped their careers in public service.
Paolo Galizzi, clinical professor of law at Fordham Law, joined by Dean Kofi E. Abotsi of the Law School at the University of Professional Studies Accra, concluded the event, thanking all participants for joining and sharing the hope that this will be the first of many alumni events on the African continent. Fordham and its African alumni, Galizzi stressed, will continue working together to promote cooperation and a mutually rewarding exchange of ideas.