The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Shri Manish Gupta, on Tuesday 4th March, called on the Greater Accra Regional Minister to discuss issues of mutual benefits, formally introduce himself to the Minister and to also congratulate and formally welcome her on her new appointment.
Speaking during the visit, H.E. Shri Manish Gupta stated that, as part of India’s bilateral relations with Ghana, the Indian High Commission offers over 200 scholarship programmes to Ghanaians which includes public sector workers.
Adding that, these initiatives come under the India’s bilateral assistance program, which provides training, capacity building and technical expertise to professionals from developing countries, including Ghana. The programme he said spans various fields such as information technology, management, agriculture, engineering, and public administration and therefore urged the Regional Co-ordinating Council to take full advantage of these opportunities.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, in response, expressed her gratitude to the delegation adding that, in previous years, the Office had benefited from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
She however noted that such opportunities had not been forthcoming in recent times and assured the delegation that her Office would take the necessary steps to revive its relations with the High Commission to enable staff benefit from these programmes and build their capacity once again.
Hon. Ocloo also used the opportunity to appeal to the High Commission to support the regional sanitation cleanup exercises she initiated to rid the Region of filth. She stated that these exercises have been scheduled for the last Friday of every month.
Adding to the discussions, Mrs. Lilian Baeka, Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council, appealed to the High Commission for support in key areas which includes, health infrastructure, particularly mammogram machines for early detection of cancer, as well as capacity building in advanced healthcare for health professionals in the region.
She further called for partnership in building the capacity of agricultural extension officers and greenhouse operators in areas such as climate-smart agricultural practices and requested for support for local farmers in the areas of agro-processing, agricultural irrigation, grain drying, technical and business-to-business exchanges.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Director and some Heads of Units and Departments of the Regional Co-ordinating Council.