The Ambassador made this disclosure during a ceremony hosted at his residence in Accra to mark Algeria’s National Students’ Day.
The event brought together alumni of the Association of Ghanaian Students in Algeria (AGSA), current students, Ghanaian government officials, and friends of the Algerian Embassy.

National Students’ Day, observed annually on May 19, commemorates the historic 1956 student strike in Algeria, during which thousands of students abandoned their classrooms to join the national liberation struggle against French colonial rule.

Amb. Louhaidia emphasized the vital role that students played in shaping Algeria’s history.

He said: “This date constitutes one of the major events in the history of the Algerian Liberation War,” he said, adding that it demonstrated “the unwavering attachment of the elite to its homeland.”

The Ambassador noted that Algeria’s progress in education since independence in 1962 had been monumental, with the country currently hosting over 12 million students in primary, middle, and secondary schools, and 1.5 million in universities.

“We have a totally free education system which helped erase the effects of illiteracy and discrimination that the French apartheid colonial system inflicted,” he stated.

Reaffirming Algeria’s commitment to Pan-Africanism and olidarity, Ambassador Louhaidia, who highlighted the longstanding educational cooperation between Algeria and Ghana, said, “Algeria gave the chance to tens of thousands of African students to study for free in Algeria since the sixties and seventies.”

He noted that over 90 Ghanaian students were currently studying in Algeria under full government scholarships, with 28 having recently arrived in March.

“In view of the successful visit to Algiers by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, our two governments agreed to deepen cooperation, with education being a key area,” the Ambassador said.

Amb. Louhaidia said Algeria would increase the number of scholarships and widen them to new fields such as AI and technical training.
He also announced that Algerian public universities would be open to fee-paying foreign students for the first time this year.

Ms. Memuna Birago Nuamah, President of the AGSA Alumni, said the celebration symbolized international unity and academic excellence.

“The alumni community serves as a living bridge between our cultures,” she remarked, and that “Our stories can inspire students currently studying in Algeria or considering international education. We offer them living proof that their dreams are valid and attainable.”

One such story came from Ms Veronica Miezah, an alumna, who studied biochemistry in Constantine, Algeria, who said, “the experience was life-changing.”

“Free hostels, food, and buses made it easier to focus on academics. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity, and I urge the Algerian government to consider easing course access restrictions for international students,” she added.

Several Ghanaian professionals who studied in Algeria were also recognized at the event, including Mr. Hakim Ouzzan, General Manager of a local bank; Mr. Gharbi Samir, Director of a cement factory; and Mr. Samir Sadaoui, CEO of a major agro-business in Ghana.

“These individuals are proof of the enduring impact of education diplomacy,” Ambassador Louhaidia said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.
He reiterated Algeria’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the historical ties between the two countries.

“Education is the most powerful tool to shape the future, and Algeria is proud to share it with Ghana,” he stated.

Edited by Christian Akorlie