Some Ghanaians demand reforms at Scholarships Secretariat following “Scholarships Bonanza” report

Following Tuesday’s expose by the Fourth Estate News Portal on the offering of scholarships to individuals connected to the ruling administration, some Ghanaians and civil society organisations have called for amendments to the operations of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat.

The report by the investigative-oriented news outlet cited the immediate and distant relations of personalities including President Nana Akufo-Addo, former NPP Chairman Freddie Blay, former Finance Minister, and other government appointees being given thousands of foreign currency to pursue various postgraduate programmes in foreign universities, mainly in Europe.

While a few of the beneficiaries acknowledged receipt of the support from the scholarship secretary, many others restrained from confirming or denying it when contacted by the media outlet.

Also, according to Fourth Estate, some individuals who were offered the scholarships either did not enrol in their chosen programmes of study or did not complete them.

The report further revealed that while some applicants did not get any scholarship despite many attempts, others got sponsored to two schools at the same time.

Reacting to the news, the President of Imani Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has called for the immediate closure of the Scholarship Secretariat in order to re-look at its operations.

“We should shut down the scholarship secretariat now!! Clean it thoroughly,” he posted on Facebook.

Presidential Aide to NDC Flagbearer John Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, told Accra-based Joy FM that “it is for very good reason the scholarship secretariat was created. It’s for those who are brilliant but cannot afford it, but it is sad that people who are doing well and can fund their ward’s education are now taking over. My advice to them is that they should leave it for those who need it.”

For his part, the Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has suggested that the Scholarships Secretariat be moved from under the watch of the Presidency to the Education Ministry.

“Until we move the scholarship secretariat from the Office of the President to the Ministry of Education, there will be no accountability. It will always be lamentations after the horses have bolted from the staple,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has urged swift legislation to streamline scholarship distribution, addressing misconceptions and challenges officers face due to unclear eligibility criteria.

“Sorry to say that there is no establishment act for the Scholarships Secretariat. It’s been an issue that needs public discussion. There’s no enabling act. So looking into the future, I think we need a scholarship act,” he said in an interview on Joy FM on Wednesday.