Gov’t to award over 2,500 scholarships to Ghanaian, ECOWAS students

The government has announced that more than 2,500 scholarships will be awarded this year to students in Ghana and across the ECOWAS sub-region, with the full list of beneficiaries set to be published online from October 1, 2025.

The disclosure was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at a press briefing in Accra on Monday as part of the Government Accountability Series.

He noted that the initiative stems from President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge in April to provide 1,000 scholarships to tertiary students in ECOWAS countries as Ghana’s contribution to the regional bloc’s 50th anniversary.

The scope of the programme has since been expanded to include more awards for Ghanaian students, bringing the total number to over 2,500.

“Over 2,500 scholarships have been secured for Ghanaian students and our brothers and sisters from the ECOWAS sub-region this year. For the first time, a full list of awardees will be published online from October 1 to guarantee fairness and accountability,” Mr Ablakwa said.

He explained that the scholarships would focus on critical fields such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, and technology, which align with President Mahama’s vision of linking education to Ghana’s broader development needs.

According to him, transparency is a key feature of the programme. “The days when access to scholarships was shrouded in secrecy are over. Every Ghanaian will be able to go online and see who has benefited and the course of study. This openness is necessary if we are to build public trust,” he added.

Beyond local impact, the minister stressed that the initiative also strengthens ECOWAS integration by creating cross-border opportunities for young people. Under the scheme, students from across West Africa will have the chance to study in Ghana, while Ghanaian students will similarly benefit from opportunities in other ECOWAS member states.

“This is about strengthening regional solidarity and preparing a new generation of skilled Africans who can contribute to our shared progress,” Mr Ablakwa said.