The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs has made a passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party administration to urgently address the dire situation of Ghanaian students on government scholarships abroad.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament, in a statement, decried the numerous complaints and reports of severe hardships faced by some Ghanaian nationals studying abroad due to the government’s failure to disburse their stipends and provide the necessary financial support to them.
Honourable Ablakwa, particularly criticized the government’s alleged mismanagement of resources, highlighting the lavish expenditure on projects like the US$58.1 million cathedral project, while neglecting the essential needs of students it sent abroad.
“The government must set its priorities right, A President who can squander US$58.1 million on the blind side of Parliament to dig a cathedral pit cannot pretend to lack funds to cater for students the government itself sent outside in faraway countries where our fellow young and vulnerable citizens do not have family relations and alternative support systems to rely on”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency further warned that such neglect not only jeopardizes the future of the students but also damages Ghana’s reputation on the international stage.
He cited reports from foreign media outlets, including Hungarian and BBC press, that have brought attention to the plight of Ghanaian students, potentially straining bilateral relationships and future scholarship opportunities.
“Many of these scholarships are bilateral agreements requiring Ghana to make only a modest contribution; if this governmental neglect continues, our bilateral partners will begin withdrawing scholarship opportunities for young Ghanaian scholars”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency
A fervent Call for Action
In a fervent call to action, the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs emphasized that the government’s dereliction of duty should no longer be tolerated, underscoring the critical need for relevant bodies to add their voice to the calls on the government to pay the stipends of Ghanaian nationals studying abroad.
Honourable Ablakwa further stated that in his capacity as the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, he is committed to taking swift action to address the plight of these Ghanaian nationals who are studying abroad and have not received their required financial support from the government.
He recounted that he has received numerous petitions from distressed students and has promised to collaborate with his parliamentary colleagues to compel the government to fulfil its obligations when Parliament reconvenes next week.
The North Tongu lawmaker concluded his remark by urging all Ghanaians, home and abroad to extend their sincerest prayers and solidarity to the affected students.
He reiterated his call for immediate government intervention to alleviate the suffering of these students and restore Ghana’s standing in the international community.
In an earlier call, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) called on the Government of Ghana to immediately take measures to pay unpaid stipends for Ghanaian students studying in Morocco.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the President of the National Union of Ghanaian Students, Kyeremeh Oppong Daniel indicated that Ghanaian students studying in Morocco on government scholarships have not received their stipends for approximately ten months.
Mr Oppong Daniel further emphasized that the failure on the part of the government to pay these stipends over the past ten months has forced students into precarious living conditions, including the threat of eviction from their accommodations and difficulties in renewing their residence permits.
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