The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Mr. Alexander Kwaku Asafo Agyei, has paid a working visit to the Republic of Serbia to assess the welfare of Ghanaian students studying under the Secretariat’s scholarship scheme and explore ways to improve service delivery.
The visit forms part of the expanded vision of President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that Ghanaian students abroad do not suffer disruptions to their studies as a result of delays in the release of funds.
In a statement, on his Facebook page Asafo Agyei said the visit was aimed at gaining first-hand information on the status of Ghanaian students in Serbia and identifying practical measures to make their academic stay more comfortable, while preparing them to return home to contribute to national development.
The delegation was received by Ghana’s Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Kwesi Ahwoi, who provided a situational briefing on the conditions of Ghanaian students in the country.
The Ambassador highlighted the positive impact of recent interventions, particularly the clearance of outstanding arrears and the timely release of funds, noting that these measures have strengthened relations between the Mission and the students and enhanced their academic success.
Mr. Asafo Agyei described the engagement with the Ambassador as fruitful and expressed appreciation for the warm reception and candid discussions.
He assured the Mission of the Secretariat’s commitment to addressing identified challenges promptly in support of the government’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda.
Ghanaian students in Serbia, led by Mohammed Mutala Suraj, a PhD student at the University of Belgrade, expressed gratitude to President Mahama and the Scholarship Secretariat for addressing their long-standing challenges, including the full settlement of outstanding fees and stipend arrears.
The students described the visit by the Scholarship Secretariat CEO as historic and remarkable, with some describing it as the happiest day of their stay abroad.
They appealed for an increase in stipends and called for continued support to ensure the timely release of payments.
They also expressed confidence in the Mahama administration’s handling of issues affecting Ghanaian students abroad and pledged to uphold high moral and academic standards that would reflect positively on the government and the country.
Mr. Asafo Agyei reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to prioritising the welfare and academic success of Ghanaian students abroad, assuring them that the era of neglect and uncertainty under the scholarship scheme is over.
He said the government remains committed to ensuring that Ghanaian students overseas are well supported as part of efforts to harness their skills and expertise for national development.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
