Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ghana calls on Volta Regional Minister to deepen development ties

The Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Ghana, H.E. Paskal A. B. Rois, has paid a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, at the Residency in Ho on Sunday, September 27, 2026 to explore avenues for deepening cooperation between the Volta Region and Indonesia.

The meeting focused on fostering exchange programmes and partnerships in tourism promotion, education and agriculture as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties for mutual benefit.

During the engagement, H.E. Rois announced fully funded scholarship opportunities for qualified Ghanaian students to study in Indonesia, including young people from the Volta Region.

He said the scholarship package covers air tickets, visa fees, accommodation, and health insurance, as well as monthly allowances and stipends throughout the period of study.

According to him, beneficiaries will be met at the airport in Indonesia by representatives of their host institutions, who will also assist them with accommodation and settlement arrangements.

He stressed that the scholarship is free and that applicants are not required to pay any fees to his office or any intermediary to access it.

H.E. Rois expressed concern that despite the opportunities available, only a few applicants from the Volta Region had so far taken advantage of the programme, and encouraged qualified youth to apply.

He noted that the scheme is open to all qualified Ghanaians and not restricted to any region, adding that it offers beneficiaries the chance to acquire skills and knowledge to support their families and communities.

He cited Dr. Asiama, Head of the Hospitality Management Department at Ho Technical University, who pursued his doctoral studies in Indonesia, as an example of how the scholarship has benefited Ghanaians.

Beyond education, the Honorary Consul expressed his commitment to supporting broader cooperation between Indonesia and the Volta Region, particularly in areas that create opportunities for young people and drive economic growth.

He said the discussions mark the beginning of deeper collaboration to attract Indonesian investment into the Volta Region, and suggested that the region could learn from Indonesia's tourism success story, especially Bali, to develop its own attractions.

For his part, Hon. James Gunu welcomed the scholarship initiative and encouraged young people in the Volta Region to take advantage of it to further their education and skills development.

The Minister also identified agriculture, agribusiness, aquaculture and entrepreneurship as key areas for collaboration with Indonesia to create jobs and grow the local economy.

He said entrepreneurship remains a major avenue for youth employment, noting that the Volta Youth Development Fund has already supported several young entrepreneurs, including those in tomato processing who are helping to reduce post-harvest losses.

Hon. Gunu further highlighted opportunities in irrigation farming, aquaculture and agricultural machinery, noting that the 400-kilometre Volta Lake holds vast potential beyond hydroelectric power generation, including large-scale irrigation, fish farming and lake transportation.

He added that both Ghana and Indonesia share experience in palm production, which presents another area for investment, and disclosed that government is improving road infrastructure under the Big Push programme and plans to expand the Ho Airport runway with an Aviation Academy and aircraft maintenance facilities to boost tourism and attract investors to the region.