Colonel Dr Francis Quarshie (Rtd), the President of Ghana – Hungarian Union, has lauded Hungary for stepping up its offer of scholarships to Ghanaian students to study in the Eastern European country.

He said since Hungary reopened its Embassy in Accra, last year, after almost 30 years of closure, it had so far offered 50 scholarships to students to study in all disciplines and “this academic year the Embassy has made it possible for another batch of 50 students to travel to Hungary to study”.

Col Quarshie, also the former Head of the 37 Military Hospital, made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), shortly before a meeting in Accra by the members of the Union to discuss activities of the body, including activities for the celebration of the independence of Hungary, which falls on March 15.

He said members of the Union were interested in forging cultural and educational co-operation with emphasis on education.

“Most of us had the privilege to study in Hungary, hence the need to create the platform for more Ghanaians to go to that country to acquire the needed skills for our country,” he said.

Dr Lawrence Tetteh, a renowned Ghanaian Evangelist and a member of the Union, who trained as an Economist in Hungary, hosted the meeting.

It was attended by a number of past Ghanaian students in Hungary and the Hungarian community in Ghana, including Mr Andras Szabo, the Ambassador and his wife and Mr Divine Amen Kpodo Tay, former Honourary Consul of Hungary in Ghana.

Dr Tetteh told the GNA that Hungary had since 1962 trained a number of Ghanaian professionals including engineers, medical doctors and pharmacists.

He said: “Most of the economic advisors of the late and first President of Ghana; Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, were trained in Hungary. The first Coach of the Blackstars was also from Hungary.”

Dr Tetteh said currently in Ghana and in the Diaspora there was a committee being put in place to coordinate the activities of the Union and make it more vibrant.

As part of the independence anniversary of Hungary, there would be a Hungarian Cultural Week & Connection Concert by Sena Dagadu, a Ghanaian Artiste with a Hungarian origin with a number of local musicians.

There would also be children’s workshops and a Hungarian Ghanaian Mini Film Festival.