KOICA Alumni urged to be agents of change

Beneficiaries of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Ghana scholarship programmes to Korea have been advised to become agent of change.

They have also been advised to implement whatever they had learnt in Korea, to improve upon the socio-economic development of the country.

The call was made by various speakers at the 2018 edition of the KOICA annual get together for the Alumni Association in Accra last Friday.

The event organised by KOICA Ghana aimed at deepening the bond of friendship between the Korea and Ghana.

It brought together Ghanaians, including government officials who have studied in different institutions in Korea.

In is welcoming address, the Country Director of KOICA, Mr. Yukyum Kim said the bilateral relations between Korea and Ghana had grown stronger over the last 41 years.

Achievement

Some beneficiaries of the KOICA scholarship programme

Mr. Kim added that the government of Korea through KOICA has awarded 29 Ghanaian government officials with Master’s Scholarship to study at Korean universities such as Seoul National University, Sungkyukan University, Korea University, Hankyong University and Yonsei University among others.

In addition, he said KOICA has supported about 1,000 Ghanaian government officials with capacity building in various field.

He elaborated that among the 1,000 trainees, 195 of them had benefited from KOICA Masters Scholarship at some of the best and cutting–edge university of Korea.

He also mentioned an US$5.5 million inter- sectoral project dubbed “Better Life for Girls  project” being carried out by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Gender  Ministry as another project by KOICA.

In agriculture, he said KOICA together with the Ministry of Empowerment and Labour Relations is executing the capacity development of Farmer Based Organisations and Cooperative (FBOs/FBCs) in the Northern Ghana with US$ 6milllion.

Call for networking

Mr. Sungsoo Kim

For his part, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ghana, Mr. Sungsoo Kim urged members of the association to take active part in building a more extensive network that will bring greater opportunity for social, economic and cultural exchange between the two countries.

“The Alumni association must leverage on technical know-how, appreciation for different cultures, and understanding of current global issues and perspectives to shape the socio- economic fortune of Ghana also your interaction and activities as members of the Association must kindle valuable and stimulating exchange of thought, resources, know-how and professional best practice”, he added.

For his part, the President of the KOICA Alumni Association of Ghana, Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei touched on some of the challenges confronting the Association.

He said the executives of the association are unware of what fund released from Korea to Ghana are used for.

He added that measures are being put in place to make the association more effective.