Ghanaian graduates lauds Australia scholarship programme

The Australian High Commission Accra has welcomed home 39 Ghanaians who studied under its Australia Awards Scholarships Programme.

Sixteen completed up to two years Masters degree and 23 completed short courses in the focus areas of agriculture, mining, and public policy.

Speaking at a short festive event to welcome them at the residence of the Australian High Commissioner, Ms Joanna Adamsony, the Australian High Commissioner, noted that 217 Ghanaians have received the awards since 2010.

She remarked, “The Australia Government is pleased to offer this Awards program to Ghana. It is an investment in the development of Ghanaian men and women leaders, and a valuable investment in the future of Ghana.”

The Australia Awards Scholarships program aims to provide high quality tertiary education and training to talented Ghanaians who will be in a position on their return home to make an important contribution in Ghana. Most of the awardees are now employed across a cross-section of government ministries and civil societies.

“Through the Alumni network, we are keen to maintain contact and hear about achievements of Awardees back in Ghana”, she said.

Fuseini Lansah, Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, said recipients of the Australian scholarship are expected to play the role of change agents in their fields of endeavour.

He prayed for a lasting relationship between Ghana and Australia to enable more emerging leaders to benefit from the scholarship.

About 100 Ghanaians, also Australian alumni, joined the celebrations

Ishmael Brown, President of the Ghana Australia Alumni Association (G3A) encouraged Ghanaian awardees to join the Australia Awards Ghana Alumni Network to share experiences with each other and stay in contact with Australia.

Commending the Australian government for the opportunity given the awardees, he observed that beneficiaries are making diverse contributions towards Ghana’s development.

A beneficiary, Eugene Asante Boateng of the Lands Commission who did his maters in sustainability at University of Monash, Melbourne, touted the benefits of the award.

He told myjoyonline.com he returned to Ghana as an “authentic leader”. The kind of leadership skills where one does things from within for the benefit of society and not being parochial, he explained.

One thing he would also not forget is how education is structured in Australia that gives room for continuity and progress, he said.

Another awardee, Isaac Kojo Arah of Ho Polytechnic, who obtained Masters of Science in Agriculture from the University of New England was wowed by facilities available at his disposal which made learning easy.

Aside the knowledge acquired in the field of agriculture, he said he learnt a lot about student-teacher relationship which he said would influence how he relates with his students.

The Awards program offers Masters level and short course awards. The next round of applications will open on 1 September 2015 and further information can be obtained via: www.australiaawardsafrica.org . In promoting gender equality, women have been encouraged to apply.

Currently, there are 14 Ghanaians studying in Australia under the Australia Awards Scholarships program.