The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced the introduction of Student Help Desks to support Ghanaians pursuing studies abroad.
According to Sam Ablakwa, this falls within Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad to provide targeted support for Ghanaian students studying overseas.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series address on 15th September, Mr. Ablakwa said the initiative is part of a broader diaspora engagement strategy aimed at addressing the needs of Ghana’s growing student community abroad.
“We have expanded our focus and are paying special attention to our students studying abroad,” he began.
He then explained that the help desks have been set up within 11 diplomatic missions, which were selected based on where Ghanaian student populations are highest.
“As part of a broad diaspora engagement strategy, the ministry has initiated the establishment of Student Help Desk within 11 of our diplomatic missions where student populations are the highest,” he noted.
The minister added that the desks are designed to assist Ghanaian students in a variety of ways, including emergency aid, guidance on immigration processes, and advice on other critical matters affecting their welfare.
“These desks are equipped to support Ghanaian students with emergency aid and guidance on immigration and other critical matters,” he said.
He further revealed that the measure has been rolled out without additional expenditure to the state, as no new staff have been recruited.
Instead, he said, existing consular staff have been reassigned to operate these desks will be scaled up to cover all missions in subsequent phases.
