The Registrar of Ghana’s Scholarship Secretariat, Alex Kwaku Asafo Agyei, has paid a working visit to the Republic of Serbia to assess the welfare of Ghanaian students studying abroad under the government scholarship and to strengthen efforts to ensure the timely release of funds for their studies.

The visit forms part of President John Dramani Mahama’s expanded vision to guarantee that Ghanaian students overseas do not suffer academic disruptions due to delayed funding.

The delegation sought to familiarize itself with the conditions of students in Serbia and identify measures to improve service delivery to make their academic pursuits smoother and more comfortable.

The team was received by Ghana’s Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Kwesi Ahwoi, who provided first-hand insights and a situational report on the status of Ghanaian students in the country.

The Ambassador highlighted the progress made in clearing arrears of fees and stipends owed to students, noting that the timely release of funds has strengthened relations between the Ghanaian Mission and the student community, while also contributing to their academic success.

Describing the engagement as fruitful, Mr Asafo Agyei expressed gratitude to Ambassador Ahwoi for his warm reception and candid discussions.

He assured the Mission of its commitment to addressing identified challenges promptly in line with President Mahama’s resetting agenda for improved governance and public service delivery.

On behalf of the Ghanaian students in Serbia, Mohammed Mutala Suraj, a PhD candidate at the University of Belgrade, expressed deep appreciation to President Mahama and the Scholarship Secretariat for resolving long-standing challenges, particularly the full clearance of fee and stipend arrears that had previously left many students in distress.

The students described the visit by the Mr Asafo Agyei as historic and remarkable, calling it the happiest day of their lives abroad.

They praised the government for restoring hope and stability in their academic journey.

The students further appealed for an increase in stipends and urged the Secretariat to ensure consistent and timely disbursement of funds.

They reaffirmed their confidence in the Mahama administration’s handling of Ghanaian students abroad and pledged to uphold high moral and academic standards that reflect positively on Ghana.

The Scholarship Secretariat reiterated that the welfare and academic success of Ghanaian students overseas remain a top priority.

Officials assured students that the era of neglect and delayed payments under the scholarship scheme is over, attributing the renewed efficiency to the decisive leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.