General News of Monday, 24 February 2020

Source: Catherine Frimpomaa, Contributor

Coronavirus: 'Government has neglected us' - Ghanaian students in China bemoan

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Ghanaian students in China living outside the Hubei province, the worst affected coronavirus epicentre have expressed concern over what they consider neglect by government of Ghana.

The students who feel sidelined from government support in the midst of the coronavirus crisis say they have not received any assistance from Ghanaian authorities even though their situation is as bad as their colleagues in and around the epicenter.

The chapter president of NUGS in Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province, Devine Sestofia was worried his members think he has received monies but refused to share with them.

"They hear in the news government has sent money to us in China and expect their share, meanwhile it's only those in Hubei who are receiving all the attention," he lamented in an interview with abenakwabenatv-aktv in UK.

"It is not fair, we feel neglected but we are all Ghanaians” divine added.

There are currently 4,760 students in China according to the Ghana embassy in china, out of which 300 are studying in Hubei Province and 200 in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

The Ghana government, through its Mission, is reported to have also supplied logistics, so far, giving US$500 to each student.

But students in Hangzhou and other areas say they have not received any of such monies.

“I am a student in Hangzhou but have not received any money, so I don't know what they mean by all students" said Raphael Nii-Ashitey Trebi a Ghanaian student at the Zhejiang University of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the parliamentary select committee on foreign affairs, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has called for an even treatment for all Ghanaian students in China.

The MP who was not very happy about the news that it is only students in Hubei province in china who have so far received government support in the ongoing Coronavirus crisis said all students must be treated with the same level support.

He also told abenakwabenatv, he will find out from the appropriate authorities if this was true. "It will be unfair to leave some out", he said.

He continued: "I will ask the authorities and if it happens to be true, we will have to do the needful" he added.

Watch the full interview below