Russia has increased the number of government-funded scholarships available to Ghanaian students from 120 to 240 annually, opening up more opportunities for young people to study abroad in specialised areas.
The new allocation was disclosed by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as part of his official visit to Russia.
Under the revised arrangement, priority will be given to programmes covering artificial intelligence, engineering, petroleum-related disciplines and pharmaceutical studies.
Mr Ablakwa said the decision would provide an additional 120 places for Ghanaian applicants seeking quality international education without having to shoulder the full financial burden associated with their studies.
The expanded scheme is expected to contribute to the development of Ghana’s technical workforce, particularly in emerging technologies and engineering.
Training in petroleum-related fields could also enhance local expertise within the energy industry, while pharmaceutical education may help address skills requirements in the health and drug-manufacturing sectors.
The scholarship agreement forms part of wider Ghana-Russia engagements aimed at expanding cooperation in education, energy and other strategic areas.
The two countries have also reached an understanding to strengthen collaboration on Ghana’s peaceful nuclear power programme and its transition towards cleaner energy.
According to the Minister, Ghana plans to introduce 700 megawatts of nuclear-generated electricity into its energy mix as part of efforts to improve energy security and reduce reliance on existing generation sources.
Greater cooperation with Russia in the nuclear sector could provide avenues for specialised education, technical capacity building and the transfer of expertise as Ghana advances its plans.
Beyond education and energy, the discussions covered international matters such as counterterrorism, climate action and proposed reforms within the United Nations.
The latest decision represents an expansion of Russia’s educational assistance to Ghana, following the 120 scholarship positions previously earmarked for Ghanaian students for the 2026/27 academic year.
The increased quota is expected to widen access to advanced academic and professional training while contributing to Ghana’s efforts to build a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting national development.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong