Soviet-Trained Ghanaians Congratulate Veep, Pledge Support

Vice-President John Mahama has asked those in position of trust to demonstrate a sense of selflessness and a positive attitude to work.

He said this when executive members of the Soviet-trained Graduates Association called on him at the Castle, Osu, to congratulate him on his elevation and to pledge their support to him.

The delegation, made up of medical doctors engineers, scholars and other professionals, was led by Benjamin Kwaku Addo, Chief Economic Planning Officer of the Greater Accra Region

The Vice-President, who studied at the Institute of Social Sciences, Moscow, in the 1980s said, 'the experience one gains in training in countries like Russia and Cuba is that it moulds one's character and attitude and instils a sense of selflessness.'

He noted that due to the transformations in the defunct Soviet Union, the number of Ghanaian students sent to Russia to study had reduced considerably.

He said Ghana valued its relationship with Russia, especially with respect to training of its students in various disciplines, and will continue to foster that partnership in a mutually beneficial manner.

On the issue of Ghanaian students who study abroad on scholarship, Mr Mahama said, the government is in the process of reviewing the scheme to ensure that students go abroad to study courses that are critical to the country's development.

He thanked the association, which presented him with a congratulatory card and a book written by Robert Woode, a renowned Ghanaian engineer, for the visit and promised to attend some of its meetings.

Mr Addo, on his part said, 'We are happy that one of our own is Vice-President, and we are ready to give our ideas any time you call on us.'

Other members of the delegation were Rebecca Okai, Procurement Specialist, e-Ghana Project, Ministry of Communications; Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Senior Research Fellow, Legon Centre for International Affairs; Mathew Ajongbah, Deputy Brand Manager, Japan Motors, Kumasi.

The rest were Stephen Amoah, Principal Engineer, Ghana Grid Company, Robert Woode, Managing Director, FATECO Ltd. and board chairman, Oil Palm Research Institute, and Cornelius Adabla, economic and management consultant.