The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has given assurance that monthly stipends for Ghanaian students abroad will soon be reviewed upward by the government.

Although no exact figures were shared, he indicated that discussions would be launched shortly to examine and improve the current allowance structure for students enrolled in government-funded academic programmes.

During his official trip to Cotonou, Benin, Mr. Ablakwa met with members of the Ghanaian community, where he also promised to work towards ensuring that payments are made on time. Students have previously raised concerns about frequent delays in receiving their stipends.

At present, students taking part in the one-year exchange initiative in Benin receive CFA 45,000 (GHS 1,147) monthly. They are also given a one-off book grant of CFA 60,000 (GHS 1,500) and another CFA 60,000 to cover medical expenses.

The programme currently accommodates around 40 students from the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC) and the University of Ghana. An additional 30 from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are scheduled to join them next week.

While interacting with the Minister, the students expressed their frustration with recent changes to the programme’s timeframe, saying, “the 12-month duration has been reduced to six months,” making it difficult to complete their academic requirements.

Records from Ghana’s embassy in Benin show that the country currently hosts over 2,000 Ghanaian nationals.

The engagement in Cotonou brought together more than 100 participants. Mr. Ablakwa highlighted that this visit is part of a new quarterly outreach strategy designed to address the concerns of Ghanaians abroad. His tour begins with Benin and Nigeria.