The Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA) has defended its ongoing Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise for Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries in the United Kingdom, saying the exercise is lawful and does not impose any new conditions on beneficiaries.
The Authority said the exercise is being conducted under the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149) and the Oaths Act, 1972 (NRCD 6), in collaboration with the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 10, 2026, the GSA said the exercise was intended to verify scholarship awards, update beneficiary records and reaffirm commitments associated with government sponsorship.
The clarification follows concerns raised by executives of the UK PhD Cohort over the exercise.
The GSA rejected claims that beneficiaries were being compelled to accept a new obligation through the oath, explaining that all beneficiaries had already signed scholarship bonds containing an undertaking to return to Ghana within two months after completing their approved programmes of study.
“The Oath of Affirmation does not introduce any additional obligation,” the Authority said, describing it as a formal reaffirmation of commitments already contained in the scholarship bonds.
The Authority further maintained that it had not altered or imposed new terms on existing scholarship agreements.
It said the validation exercise was therefore not a retrospective application of new rules but rather an administrative process to confirm existing obligations and ensure that beneficiary records were accurate and up to date.
The GSA also clarified the status of Letters of “No Objection” issued to some beneficiaries seeking to take advantage of the United Kingdom’s Graduate Route.
According to the Authority, the letters were issued at the request of individual beneficiaries who wanted to undertake post-study professional experience under the applicable two-year Graduate Route visa arrangement.
It said the letters did not constitute a waiver, cancellation or variation of the scholarship bond.
The Authority argued that the Graduate Route could provide beneficiaries with additional professional skills and experience that could ultimately contribute to Ghana’s human capital development.
However, it stressed that the obligation to return to Ghana and fulfil commitments under the scholarship bond remained in force unless expressly and lawfully varied or set aside by the competent authority.
The GSA also acknowledged concerns over outstanding tuition fees and stipend payments, saying it recognised the difficulties delays could cause scholarship beneficiaries.
It said it was engaging the Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions to facilitate the settlement of outstanding obligations.
The Authority, however, maintained that payment issues were separate from the ongoing validation exercise.
“A delay in the payment of tuition or stipends does not suspend the obligations contained in a scholarship bond,” it said, adding that beneficiaries would not lose any legitimate entitlement simply by participating in the validation exercise.
The GSA urged all affected beneficiaries to honour invitations to participate in the oath and validation exercise, describing it as an accountability and record-management process rather than an adversarial exercise.
It said the exercise was aimed at protecting the integrity of the government scholarship programme, ensuring accurate beneficiary records and promoting fairness and transparency.
The Authority also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging beneficiaries respectfully, transparently and in good faith.
