The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), has held a meeting with Ghanaian tertiary institutions at an event at the Authority’s Cantonments head office in Accra on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

The event, which brought together nine (09) higher institutions of learning and a representative from the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), was in line with the Authority’s broader strategies of improving export returns in the education services sector through increased foreign students’ enrollment in Ghana’s tertiary institutions. Participants at the meeting looked at the modalities and the strategies aimed at augmenting the gains made in the sub-regional market as well as increasing the number of foreign students in both the private and the public universities.

A discussion on the collation and integration of foreign students’ data into the Non Traditional Export (NTE) Data system generated a lot of interesting talking points. The General consensus however was that the NCTE holds the relevant information needed by the GEPA to commence the process of data acquisition and eventual integration, al beit with additional work and consultation with the relevant schools.

In his remarks, the Deputy CEO of GEPA, Mr Albert Kassim Diwura, who represented the CEO, Ms Afua Asabea Asare, stated that, “As part of strategies aimed at placing Ghana beyond aid, we are leveraging our strengths in the sub-region to achieve higher revenue returns for our country.” He reiterated the fact that the education sector holds the potential to generate the needed Forex for the country. Acting Director for Services, Manufactures and Petrochemicals at GEPA, Mr Abdallah Z.K. Banda, revealed that GEPA in line with its core mandate of developing and promoting goods and services sees the promotion of tertiary education in the sub-regional market and beyond as part of its strategic objective.

The gathering generally agreed that GEPA’s initiative was laudable and forward looking, as it seeks to assist the schools in their recruitment drive. Participants urged GEPA to look beyond the Nigerian market and equally target the francophone markets and other African markets through the deployment of the appropriate trade promotion strategies.

It was also agreed that foreign students in Ghana should be given the best customer care so that they (students) serve as good ambassadors to the Ghanaian brand.

The schools assured GEPA of their commitment to the Authority’s strategic direction, and that any support needed by GEPA to move forward in the education service sector will be provided.

The participating schools were Ashesi University, Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), Central University, Regional Maritime University (RMU), University of Professional Studies (UPS), Kumasi Technical University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Ghana (UG) and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).