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Ablakwa sets up special department under Foreign Ministry to cater for needs of Ghanaian students abroad
Ablakwa sets up special department under Foreign Ministry to cater for needs of Ghanaian students abroad
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 2 mins read
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has launched a dedicated department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support Ghanaian students studying overseas.
This initiative aims to provide structured and timely assistance to students facing challenges while pursuing their education abroad.
To kickstart the initiative, “Student Desks” have been established in 11 countries with significant Ghanaian student populations, including Abidjan, Beijing, Belgrade, Cotonou, Havana, Lome, London, Moscow, Rabat, Rome, and Ottawa. The ministry has indicated plans to expand the program to all Ghanaian diplomatic missions worldwide after the initial rollout.
In a social media announcement, Minister Ablakwa assured that the new initiative would not require additional government expenditure or new personnel, as existing consular staff would be reassigned to manage the Student Desks. Officials in charge will be required to submit monthly reports to the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau for further review by the Foreign Minister.
Highlighting the significance of the intervention, Ablakwa stated, “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.”
This initiative aligns with Ablakwa’s broader vision for consular services. Before his appointment as Foreign Minister, he pledged to establish a Consular Fund to assist distressed Ghanaians abroad, particularly those affected by mass deportations from the United States.
Expressing concern over the lack of financial resources for consular assistance, he revealed that Ghanaian foreign service staff often use their own money to help citizens in distress.
“As ranking member, I advocated strongly for the establishment of a Consular Fund. I was shocked to learn that our hardworking foreign service staff have to sometimes contribute their own money to assist distressed Ghanaians out there who need consular assistance,” he stated.
Ablakwa further stressed the need for a dedicated budget for consular services, in line with international conventions. “In the budget for the foreign service, we don’t have a line item for consular relations. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, countries must extend these courtesies to their citizens. As Foreign Minister, when given the nod, I will make sure that we establish the Consular Fund.”
