Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced the establishment of a special department dedicated to prioritizing and addressing the needs of Ghanaian students studying abroad. According to the Minister, this initiative will ensure that students receive the necessary support in areas such as fees facilitation, immigration assistance, medical emergencies, and housing.
In his recent post on social media platform X, Ablakwa revealed that Student Desks have been set up in 11 countries, where a significant number of Ghanaian students are currently enrolled. The diplomatic missions that will host these desks include Abidjan, Beijing, Belgrade, Cotonou, Havana, Lome, London, Moscow, Rabat, Rome, and Ottawa.
This new initiative, which marks the first phase of a broader plan, will eventually extend to all Ghanaian diplomatic missions worldwide. The program is designed to cater to the needs of students on government scholarships, who have often faced challenges in receiving support during critical moments of their academic journey.
https://x.com/S_OkudzetoAblak/status/1891459601905733686?s=19
Ablakwa emphasized that the creation of the Student Desks would not incur any additional costs to the Ghanaian taxpayer. The program will instead rely on the reassignment of existing consular staff, with no new recruitment necessary. The officials assigned to manage these desks will be responsible for submitting monthly reports to the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, which will then forward them to the Foreign Minister for review.
The initiative seeks to address the long-standing issue of Ghanaian students abroad, particularly those on government scholarships, who have been left without assistance during times of crisis, such as fee-related issues, medical emergencies, or even evacuations.
“This marks the beginning of a new era where Ghanaian students abroad will no longer be neglected or frustrated,” said Minister Ablakwa. “The Mahama administration is committed to ensuring that our students receive the care and attention they need while studying abroad.”
Minister Ablakwa also hinted at further institutional reforms aimed at improving the overall experience for Ghanaian students, and he reaffirmed his government’s dedication to resetting the country’s approach to international student welfare.
The Foreign Ministry’s new initiative is a positive step toward addressing the challenges faced by students abroad, with the goal of providing comprehensive support and fostering a more connected, responsive diplomatic service for Ghanaian nationals worldwide.
