Accra: Ambassador Nancy Sam has been appointed as the Head Patron of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), the largest national students' union in Ghana, boasting a membership exceeding 13.5 million.
According to Ghana Web, Ambassador Nancy Sam also holds the position of Tourism Ambassador for Miami, USA, serves as the Vice President of ECOWAS Tourism Private Sector (COPITOUR), and is the President and Founder of Women in Tourism Ghana. Her pioneering efforts began in 1999 when she became the first tour operator in West Africa to facilitate exchange programs for African students to Disney World, Florida, USA. Many of these students have since ascended to significant roles such as CEOs, business leaders, entrepreneurs, Members of Parliament, doctors, and public servants.
The appointment of Ambassador Nancy Sam as Head Patron of NUGS is seen as a fitting acknowledgment of her unwavering dedication to youth development and tourism in Ghana and the broader West African region. Her recent appointment ceremony was graced by numerous dignitaries, including the NUGS President and executives, former Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Peruvian Ambassador to Ghana, the Country Manager of Qatar Airways Ghana, the CEO of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, and a former NUGS member who once served as Majority Whip of Parliament.
CEO and owner of five clinics in Miami, Florida, Prinston Jean Glaude, also attended the event and pledged support for NUGS exchange programs for medical students, offering opportunities for modern technological exposure and practical experience in his hospitals abroad.
Ambassador Nancy Sam's narrative reflects decades of commitment to tourism, youth empowerment, and national development. Her new role as Head Patron of NUGS celebrates her enduring commitment to Ghana and its student community.
In the early 2000s, the United States Embassy prominently displayed photographs of Ghanaian students who travelled to Disney World under Ambassador Nancy's guidance. She is regarded as a pivotal figure in West African tourism, advocating for the private tourism industry and demonstrating resilience even when faced with challenges, such as a reported incident where she was threatened at gunpoint to sign a mandate for the tourism sector, which she refused for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Her career began in the late 1990s when she founded her travel and tour company, competing with established firms. One of the notable highlights of her leadership occurred during a trip to the United States with a Ghanaian delegation, where her quick thinking and resourcefulness ensured their timely arrival at a ceremonial event in Washington, D.C., despite a flight delay.
Ambassador Nancy Sam's contributions to tourism and youth development continue to be celebrated, marking her as a distinguished and influential figure in Ghana and beyond.