A total of 250 Ghanaians would on Monday May 21, leave the shores of Ghana to undertake various medical science programmes in Cuba for the next six years.

The arrangement follows the agreement accomplished between Vice President John Dramani and the government of Cuba during his official visit to the Caribbean island nation last year.

Under the agreements, the Cuban government would provide scholarship for all the 250 students who were selected from deprived communities throughout the country and would be ready to come back and serve those communities on completion.

In a send-off reception held for them in Accra on Sunday, Vice President Mahama advised them to learn the virtues of morality, patriotism and unity that had spurred Cubans on over the years to undertake massive development projects in the face of developmental challenges, mostly from the western countries.

He said students are made up of university graduates who would be undertaking medical post-graduate courses, while the Senior High School graduates would undertake both undergraduate and post graduate courses before returning home.

Vice President Mahama urged them to conduct themselves well to encourage the Cuban government to sponsor more Ghanaians in the coming years.

He pleaded with all those who could not be picked for this year’s programme to exercise restraint while government negotiated for more sponsorship packages.

Nii Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister advised them against engaging in vices such as drugs, which he warned could ruin their lives and subsequently discourage other parents from sending their children for similar courses abroad.

He advised them to be law-abiding and respect the Cuban authority in order to acquire the skills that they were sent there for.

Mr. Jorge Lefebre, Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, urged them to be confident to acquaint themselves with the lifestyle of Ghanaians to study hard to achieve their purported goals.**