The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed the students and faculty members of India-Ghana Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in ICT today (June 14, 2016).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said India has always believed that Africa should take ownership of its resources and define its own interests and goals. Our Government is committed to working with partners in Africa in all areas where we can help them to use and adapt relevant, cost effective technologies, share best practices and realise their goals of technological development.

The President said the greatest reward for the Kofi Annan Centre is that its graduates are effectively deployed throughout the Economic Community of West African States. This was India’s primary objective in seeking to build capacity and assist Ghana and its neighbours in their human resource development. The establishment of the Kofi Annan Centre and its partnership with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in India is an example of the successful co-operation between Ghana and India in the field of Information Technology and human resource development. India has always been happy to extend technical support and expertise to its friends in Africa.

The President announced an additional million dollar grant to the Kofi Annan Centre on the occasion to help the Centre initiate a Masters programme, expand its laboratory facilities and introduce additional curriculum that will help students stay abreast with rapidly advancing technology.

This release issued at 1650 hrs.