The Minister Designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced plans to streamline access to bilateral scholarships for Ghanaian students.
Aiming to address the underutilization of available opportunities, Ablakwa highlighted the creation of a dedicated website and specialized officers to assist citizens in accessing these scholarships.
During his vetting on Friday, January 31, he emphasized that many students are unaware of the various scholarships offered by countries such as the UK, the US, China, Japan, and South Korea, due to a lack of centralized information. He stressed the importance of consolidating all available scholarships on a single platform, where clear eligibility criteria and application guidelines would be easily accessible to the public. He proposed the formation of dedicated offices to guide students through the application process, ensuring that no student misses out due to logistical challenges or missed deadlines.
Ablakwa noted the success of the Hungarian bilateral scholarship program during his tenure as Deputy Minister for Education, which annually offered 100 Ghanaians the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in Hungary. He highlighted such programs as an effective way to alleviate pressure on local scholarship funds, particularly given the fiscal constraints faced by GetFund, Scholarship Secretariat.
Beyond the scholarships, Mr. Ablakwa also proposed a review of the passport fee structure, particularly for brilliant but needy students who often face financial hardships. He suggested the introduction of a subsidy on passport fees for these students, ensuring that the financial burden of acquiring essential travel documents does not hinder their access to international study opportunities.
