The Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, His excellency, Imane Ouadil has commended the President, Executives, and members of the Ghana Morocco Old students Association(GHAMOSA ) for using their knowledge and expertise to promote and strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Morocco.
Speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Association in Accra on 11th November 2022, she said the old students are one of the important investments of the Moroccan government in Ghana and investment in the future for the two countries and the African continent.
She noted that the 10th anniversary of the Ghana Morocco old students Association celebration which falls in November coincides with the celebration of two important dates for “ us Moroccans a few days ago the 6th of November that celebrates the Green March and pays tribute to the many who devoted their lives to liberate our Sahara. I am happy to celebrate all three events with you all tonight”.
She commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, and the King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI for working together to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. She also commended Ambassador Kwabena Anan former Ghana Ambassador to Morocco and Ambassador Tourougui, Former Morocco Ambassador to Ghana for their unflinching service to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
According to her, there has been an increase in student mobility from African countries as a result of the good cooperation agreements. “Currently, Morocco hosts more than 18,000 students from 47 African countries, enrolled in different Moroccan higher education public institutions such as the faculties of medicine and pharmacy, dentistry, science and technology, engineering sciences, commerce, and management technology, and translation.” She stated.
Ambassador Imane Ouadil noted that the influx of foreign students has been in the order of 4, 000 new students each year where Africans represent 63% of all entrants with the assumption of 95% as scholarship holders of the Moroccan government.
“I, therefore, want to commend the tremendous work done by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation. you all know AMCI and its Director General, Ambassador Mohammed Methqal, who are working to broaden the fields of cooperation between Morocco and its sister African countries towards order to increase the number and type of beneficiaries of international cooperation programmes in number and type . Thanks to these efforts we have managed since 2019 to educate an additional 20 Ghanaian students for vocational training”, she noted.
“To underscore Morocco’s commitment to Africa and its youth, I quote King Mohamed VI ‘S speech from the 29th African Union Summit in 2017 when Morocco re-joined its institutional African Family. His Majesty said “the future of Africa depends on its youth; Africa’s young population underlines the urgency of orienting the demographic dividend towards the emergence of the continent. Africa, therefore, has an unexpected opportunity to benefit from a young, educated, and abundant workforce to fuel its economic growth”.
“Indeed Africa cannot be seen as a mere pool of opportunities. Africa needs to create and seize its own opportunities and generate its own wealth. I commend you, beneficiaries of Morocco government’s scholarship for stepping out of your comfort zone and moving to a new different country for years. While I hope the majority of your experience was enriching and exciting. I imagine there were also challenging days that made you nostalgic for home, for the nice Ghanaian dishes, yet you persevered. And when you returned to Ghana, you applied your experience in your respective fields to give back to your communities to make a difference” she said.
“I want to announce that we are currently processing the admission files of 97 Ghanaian candidates. that I hope will in a few years come back to contribute to the development of Ghana and to swell your ranks “, she added.
The event bought together high-level dignitaries like Honourable Stephen Yakubu, Upper West Regional Minister, Nii Kotey Amon II, Asere Dzaasetse of the Ga State, Hon Aliu Mahama, Member of Parliament for Yendi, representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Kwabena Anan among others, Guineas Ambassador to Ghana
In his presentation, the President of the Ghana Morocco Old Students Association, Peter Panyin Anamang, described the Ghana Morocco Old Students Association as a global coalition of young Ghanaian professionals trained in the Kingdom of Morocco and now integrated into various sectors of the Ghanaian economy and around the world.
He said over the last decade, the Association has undertaken many impactful activities which include Educational Conferences, Business exhibitions and Networking forums, Sports and Networking Festivals, and many others. These activities he said were to further strengthen the already existing bond between Ghana and Morocco.
He commended the king of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who revived the Ghana – Morocco relations and paved the way for Ghanaians to further their education in Morocco.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank His Excellency Ambassador Kobina Annan, Former Ghana Ambassador to Morocco, and Mrs. Ekua Annan. They have shown great commitment and provided guidance, encouragement, and support through every stage of the formation of this Association. On this special day, we say thank you!
We would also like to say special thanks to Ambassador Tourougui, former Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, their deputies, and the staff of the Embassy for their partnership, trust, and respect, and for making the Embassy our home. A very special thanks to CIMAF Ghana and OCP Ghana for the partnership.
