Accra, April 7, GNA - The German Embassy in Accra on Friday announced the 2006 scholarship programme for development professionals offered by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). The postgraduate courses, many of which are conducted in English lead to internationally recognised Masters and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees, include programmes relevant to areas of development such as international health, agribusiness, water management or development economics.

A statement to the Ghana News Agency signed by Ms Ruth Mensah, Public Relations Officer of the Embassy, set out the entry requirements as a good Bachelor's Degree and at least two years of professional experience relevant to the chosen course. The age limit is 36. In order to ensure that scholarship holders returned to Ghana and made the acquired expertise available to their country, applicants were requested to submit a re-employment guarantee from their current employers.

"We particularly welcome the applications of qualified women", emphasised Dr H. Olk, Director of the Information Centre. "It is important that women have their say in all development-related issues, as they tend to bring their own, valuable perspective to the way forward. In recent years, however, the vast majority of applicants have been male."