There are about 7,000 foreign students from 16 countries, currently attending a university in Ghana, Deputy-Minister of Education Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed.

This, he said, is a signal that the country’s tertiary education is very attractive to students outside the country as a result of its quality and the value of certificates issued by these universities.

“Our standards are high, our certificates are valuable, and this is what is attracting foreigners into our various universities in the country.”

Mr. Ablakwa was speaking at the 9th graduation ceremony of the Accra Institute of Technology, and said government will continuously improve infrastructure in the country’s various universities -- and support the private ones as well, in order to give quality training to students. He said government has extended the student loans to private university colleges also.

A number of tertiary institution heads told B&FT in an earlier interview that a better environment and quality teaching compared to other Africa countries are luring international students, opening a new stream of fee-income for institutions in the country.

Ghana currently plays host to international students from various African countries including Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Liberia, Cameroon and Sierra Leone among others. The increasing choice of Ghana as a destination for higher education in the sub-region has drawn economic benefits and heightened social concerns.

The Ghana Technology University College, for instance, has about 20 percent of its students as foreign students.

At present, international students pay between US$2,500 and US$3,500 a semester as tuition fees, which has become a major revenue source for colleges.

There are about 64 private university colleges in the country, and most of them have more foreign students than Ghanaians.

Institutions such as Accra Institute of Technology Sikkim Manipal University, Ghana Christian University College, and All Nations University College all have foreign students coming from countries such Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire among others.