Russia doubles annual scholarship allocation for Ghanaian students to 240

Russia has doubled its annual scholarship allocation for Ghanaian students from 120 to 240, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.

The fully funded scholarships will prioritise programmes in artificial intelligence, engineering, petroleum sciences and pharmaceuticals, providing more Ghanaian students with opportunities to pursue higher education in Russia.

Mr Ablakwa announced the development as part of the outcomes of his ongoing three-day official visit to Moscow, undertaken at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

In a social media statement on August 18, 2026, the Foreign Affairs Minister said Ghana and Russia had also agreed to strengthen cooperation in Ghana’s peaceful nuclear energy programme and its transition to greener energy sources.

According to him, the two countries would collaborate towards Ghana’s plan to add 700 megawatts of nuclear power to the national energy mix as part of efforts to diversify electricity generation.

“Following my ongoing official visit to Russia, Russian scholarships for Ghanaian students have now been doubled from 120 each academic year to 240,” Mr Ablakwa said.

The Minister said discussions between the two countries also covered international issues, including counterterrorism, climate change and reforms at the United Nations.

The latest scholarship increase builds on Russia’s allocation of 120 government-funded slots to Ghanaian students for the 2026/27 academic year. The quota had previously been increased from 75 to 110 in 2022.

The expanded allocation is expected to particularly benefit students seeking training in fields considered critical to Ghana’s technological, industrial and economic development.

Ghana-Russia nuclear cooperation

Beyond education, the latest diplomatic engagement has also strengthened discussions on nuclear energy cooperation between Ghana and Russia.

The two countries signed an agreement in 2015 on the peaceful use of atomic energy, laying the foundation for further collaboration in nuclear technology and energy development.

Russia’s state nuclear energy company, Rosatom, is among five companies shortlisted to compete for Ghana’s first nuclear power plant project. The other shortlisted companies are from France, the United States, China and South Korea.

Cooperation has also been reinforced through a more recent memorandum of understanding between the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom.

The two sides have additionally explored the potential use of floating nuclear power units as an option for integrating nuclear energy into Ghana’s electricity generation system.

The latest agreements and commitments form part of renewed efforts by Ghana and Russia to deepen bilateral relations, particularly in education, energy, technology and international cooperation.