Accra: The Indian government has announced the provision of over 400 fully funded educational slots to Ghanaian students this year, encompassing graduate, postgraduate, and doctorate programs, as well as specialized training. These opportunities are aimed at enhancing educational ties and fostering development between the two nations.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Manish Gupta, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, shared this development during the India-Ghana Partnership Day Reception held in Accra. He highlighted that these opportunities are part of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which focuses on sectors such as health, governance, environment, ICT, and defense training. This initiative underscores the strong bilateral ties and developmental partnership between India and Ghana.
Mr. Gupta further emphasized that the slots under the ITEC programme have seen a 50 percent increase this year, with over 4,000 Ghanaians having benefited from these programs to date. He also mentioned that Indian private universities are actively offering various scholarships for higher education, and the High Commission of India is preparing to host the 'Study in India Fair' in April. The Indian High Commissioner also noted the bipartisan support for the partnership, which has facilitated several key projects in Ghana over the last 15 years. These include the Jubilee House, Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, Foreign Policy Training Institute, and developments in agro-harvesting, fisheries, rural electrification, and the recently completed Tema-Mpakadan railway line project.
Indian investors have committed nearly $2 billion to Ghana over the past decade, with plans to expand partnerships across sectors by adopting cost-effective technologies and sharing expertise through capacity building. The ITEC programme, established in 1964, remains one of the oldest institutional frameworks for international capacity building under the South-South cooperation model.
The event saw the attendance of notable figures such as Madam Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; Mr. Vitus Langmane, Chief Director representing the tourism minister; Ms. Lilian Baeka, Chief Director representing the Greater Accra Regional Minister; along with 250 ITEC alumni, Members of Parliament, and prominent Indian nationals. Madam Arthur highlighted that the bilateral trade between Ghana and India exceeds $2 billion annually, with Ghana exporting cocoa, gold, timber, cashew nuts, and oil to India, while importing pharmaceuticals, machinery, textiles, and refined petroleum products.
The minister noted the significant impact of India's scholarship programs and capacity-building initiatives on Ghanaian students, emphasizing that the exchange of knowledge plays a crucial role in strengthening Ghana's workforce and technological development, which in turn contributes to the prosperity and growth of the nation.
