The Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed the ministry has established “a special department in our diplomatic missions abroad to prioritize and cater for the needs of students”.

He said this move was made on his instructions and “Student Desks have immediately been created in 11 countries where data confirms a high number of Ghanaian students currently studying in those countries”.

Mr Ablakwa underlined, “The creation of this special department would not come at an extra cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer, neither would it require additional recruitment since the initiative relies on reassigning consular staff.

“The embassy officials responsible for this new role are to send monthly reports to the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau for onward transmission to the Foreign Minister.”

Read his entire X post below:

I am delighted to announce that on my instructions, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry has established a special department in our diplomatic missions abroad to prioritize and cater for the needs of students.

Student Desks have immediately been created in 11 countries where data confirms a high number of Ghanaian students currently studying in those countries.

Diplomatic missions where these Student Desks have been created are: Abidjan, Beijing, Belgrade, Cotonou, Havana, Lome, London, Moscow, Rabat, Rome and Ottawa.

This initiative will soon cover all diplomatic missions following this pilot phase.

The creation of this special department would not come at an extra cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer, neither would it require additional recruitment since the initiative relies on reassigning consular staff.

The embassy officials responsible for this new role are to send monthly reports to the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau for onward transmission to the Foreign Minister.

The Mahama administration is determined to end the era where Ghanaian students studying abroad, particularly those on government scholarships are left stranded, neglected and frustrated when they need urgent assistance in areas such as fees facilitation, immigration support, medical emergencies, verification of academic records, housing and accommodation support, evacuations and legal aid.

More institutional reforms to follow. Together, we shall reset Ghana.