The Government of the People’s Republic of China has awarded scholarships to 75 Ghanaian students to study at universities in China.

Out of the 75 students, 40 have left for China.

As part of the scholarship programme, most of the students who would offer various courses in Chinese would study the Chinese language for a year, before continuing their programmes of study.

Some of the programmes are Agriculture, Information Communication Technology (ITC), Chemistry, Business Management, Pharmacology, Electric Science & Technology, Finance, Public Administration and Mass Communication.

He also expressed China’s unflinching support for Ghana in the area of education.

“The bilateral co-operation on education under the framework of China-Africa Co-operation Forum has yielded fruitful results, ” he remarked, adding that the Government of the People’s Republic of China had also provided short-term training opportunities for about 700 Ghanaian officials, professionals and technicians since 2006.

“We have increased the Chinese government’s scholarship from 20 slots to 75 this year. We have built three rural model schools in the Great Accra, central and Western regions this year,” Mr Lushan said.

He pointed out that the Chinese government had also sent two lecturers and some volunteers to teach Chinese language at the University of Ghana, Legon.

He expressed conviction that the support was in the right direction, as it would increase the human resource capacity of the people of Ghana.

Mr Lushan gave an assurance that China will continue to provide scholarships, training programmes and other forms of educational assistance to Ghana.

He, therefore, encouraged the students to focus on their studies and make friends with the Chinese people in order to be able to learn from each other.

“It is my sincere hope that when you graduate from China, you will not only apply what you have learnt in China to build a better Ghana, but would also serve as ambassadors for friends between our two peoples,” he stated.

Mr Lushan, however, cautioned the students to be law-abiding and return to Ghana when their programme were over to support the country’s growing economy.

A representative of the students, Mr Halid Mahama, expressed appreciation for the opportunity offered them by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to study in that country.

The students were later treated to various Chinese dishes.