… ramps up support for industrial growth and human capital dev’t
By Juliet ETEFE
India has ramped up its support for Ghana’s human capital development, with a notable increase in the number of scholarships and training slots available for Ghanaian nationals.
The announcement was made by the High Commissioner of India, Manish Gupta during the recent India-Ghana Partnership Day held in Accra, while he underscored commitment to strengthening developmental ties.
Over 400 fully-funded slots have been provided this year, marking a 50 percent increase in opportunities compared to previous years. The scholarships cover graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, along with specialised training in fields such as health, Information Communication Technology, governance, environment, and defense.
This is in line with the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, established in 1964, and has provided more than 200,000 training opportunities to individuals from over 160 countries, focusing on economic growth and capacity building.
The High Commissioner also pointed out the significant role of Indian private universities, which are stepping up to offer scholarships for higher education in India.
As part of these efforts, the High Commission will soon host the “Study in India” fair, aimed at further expanding educational opportunities for Ghanaian students.
In addition to the scholarships, the High Commissioner noted that “India is committed to deepening and expanding its partnership with Ghana in all sectors, working towards the adoption of cost-effective technologies, and sharing best practices and expertise through capacity building.”
The High Commissioner expressed confidence that these efforts will lead to greater mutual benefits for both nations in the years to come.
Mutual investments
For her part, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, expressed appreciation of the Government of India for the ITEC programme and the development partnership.
Ms. Arthur further called on Indian businesses to deepen their investment in Ghana’s fisheries, aquaculture, and industrial value chains to support the country’s economic transformation agenda.
She urged Indian investors to align with President John Mahama’s 24-hour Economy initiative and accelerated export development programme to drive industrialisation and job creation.
She also emphasised the need to shift from raw material exports to value-added production, highlighting India’s potential role in strengthening Ghana’s manufacturing and agribusiness sectors.
The minister advocated for increased knowledge exchange through training programmes and business collaborations, particularly in fisheries, given India’s position as a global leader in aquaculture.
She urged stakeholders to explore investment opportunities in the country’s blue economy, leveraging India’s expertise to boost the sector’s growth.
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to creating a favorable investment climate and expressed confidence that deeper collaboration with India would accelerate Ghana’s economic transformation.
