MOSCOW-RUSSIA -The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS-Russia) has called on the Government to fulfill its promise to absorb and offer funding for 40 private students currently studying in the Russian Federation. The Vice President H.E. John Dramani Mahama had earlier announced Government’s decision to support the said private students. The VEEP, himself a former student in Russia, made the announcement during a dinner-dance organized by the Soviet Trained Ghanaian Graduates Association -SOTGGA (Daily Graphic 6.11.2011).

The students of NUGS-Russia made the call during their annual congress from the 9th – 11th of March 2012. The three (3) day event which saw the launch of the Union’s Maiden magazine “NUGS-Mag” was also used to commemorate Ghana’s 55th Independence Day at the Ghana Embassy in Moscow. It was well attended by officials of the Ghana Mission, Deans of Educational Institutions, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and teaming members of the Ghana Community in Russia.

The congress was preceded by a hot debate between the students of Saint Petersburg who spoke for the motion and triumphed over their colleagues in Moscow on the topic “The old generation has failed the youth in the socio-economic development of Africa”. The sound arguments put forth by both sides on the controversial topic raised intense excitement among the audience.

H.E. Dr. Seth Koranteng, Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia and CIS expressed his satisfaction with the way Ghanaians in the country continue to portray the good image of Ghana. He advised the students to focus diligently on their studies so as to achieve their objective of coming to Russia. He also assured the Ghanaian Community of the Government’s continuing support and the mission’s readiness to assist them in diverse ways.

The congress which was very successful ended with the election of Mr. Frank Adusei Poku as the new President of the Union. Other elected officers included Mr. Shine Brian Tsar as Vice President, Prince Abakah-General Secretary, Godwin Adukpo-financial secretary and Mr Samuel Antwi as the organizing secretary to steer the affairs of the student union for the 2012-2013 academic year. The students were grateful to the outgoing executives led by Mr. Ernest Marfo for their dedicated service.

We wish to appeal to government for an urgent critical review of the conditions of our scholarship in view of the high cost of living in the Russian Federation. This has become necessary since the last such review occurred in 2005 and implemented in 2007, is already out of sync with current economic realities. We further wish to request for the release of funds for the accumulated Hostel fees and medical refunds of some students. We finally wish state that the said reduction coupled with the removal of other allowances has brought a lot of hardships to the students in the Russian Federation.