The Government of Ghana has introduced a specialized department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to directly support Ghanaian students studying overseas.
This initiative is designed to ensure that students receive timely assistance in addressing various challenges they may face while pursuing their education abroad.
As part of this effort, “Student Desks” have been set up in 11 countries with significant Ghanaian student populations. These include Abidjan, Beijing, Belgrade, Cotonou, Havana, Lome, London, Moscow, Rabat, Rome, and Ottawa. The Foreign Ministry plans to expand the initiative to all diplomatic missions after the initial phase.
Announcing the development on Facebook, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa assured that the initiative would not impose additional financial burdens on taxpayers or necessitate new hires. Instead, existing consular staff will be reassigned to manage the Student Desks.
Diplomatic personnel responsible for these desks are required to submit monthly reports to the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, which will, in turn, provide updates to the Foreign Minister.
Minister Ablakwa emphasized, “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.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, prior to the approval of his nomination as minister, pledged to establish a Consular Fund to support Ghanaians in distress abroad, particularly those affected by the United States’ mass deportation exercise.
Ablakwa expressed concern over the lack of financial provisions for consular assistance, revealing that foreign service staff often use their own money to help distressed citizens.
“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.
He emphasized the need for a dedicated budget line for consular services, in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. “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.”
