High Commissioner holds talks with Queensland University on strengthening relations
Ghana’s High Commissioner to Australia, Dr Joseph Agoe, has held talks with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagements and Entrepreneurship at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, on how to strengthen the partnership between Ghana and the university.
The discussions with Dr Jessica Gallagher focused on ways to improve the existing collaboration between Ghana and the university which had existed over the last five years.
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More than 60 Ghanaians are said to have undertaken studies and training at various levels at the University of Queensland.
These programmes, held in partnership with the Australian Awards Scheme, included capacity building in Local Economic and Social Development in Extractives: Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, and Agribusiness.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor indicated that her university supported all forms of research collaboration, noting that the onset of Covid-19 had brought about some innovations in training, and that many lessons had been learnt and capabilities had equally increased.
“As a result, more people could benefit from virtual training as the cost per person is much less compared to in-person training,” she said.
Dr Gallagher said the University of Queensland would welcome the opportunity to connect with agencies in Ghana to explore a collaborative project around mining and food security.
Dr Agoe expressed appreciation for the warm reception and the promise of more cooperation with the University of Queensland.
In the area of Agriculture, the High Commissioner said Ghana’s interest would be in the acquisition of expertise in value addition to local crops to prevent post-harvest loses; value addition to Ghana’s mineral resources, and the prevention of environmental degradation in artisanal mining.
He assured the Pro Vice-Chancellor that the relevant organisations such as the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) would be approached for the necessary collaboration.