Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat opens up on the selling of scholarships
The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Kwaku Asafo Agyei, has announced a major overhaul of the country’s scholarship system. The goal, he says, is to restore fairness, discipline, and purpose—especially by ensuring that government-funded scholarships go to students who truly need them.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Kro Yi Mu Nsem show with Nana Kwadwo Jantuah, Mr. Asafo Agyei raised concerns that, over the years, some well-connected individuals and their families have been benefiting from scholarships they could easily afford without government help.
He made it clear: Ghana’s scholarships are not for sale.
To address these concerns, a new vetting committee has been formed to thoroughly assess all applications and ensure that only deserving students are selected.
“That era must end, we are repositioning the Secretariat to focus on brilliant but genuinely needy Ghanaian students. There is a committee set up to validate all applications and ensure that scholarships are given on merit,” he stated.
In another significant shift, scholarships will now be reviewed every year—and continued funding will depend on the recipient’s academic performance.
“If we give you a scholarship, we shall assess your performance every year and if it is below expectation the scholarship will be revoked. We will not waste public funds on you while you don’t learn and do other things,” he stressed.
Additionally, Mr. Asafo Agyei said the Secretariat will no longer fund students to pursue courses abroad that are already available at local universities. Instead, funding will prioritize areas that align with Ghana’s future workforce needs, such as science, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
“I am informing all Ghanaians that the Scholarship Secretariat will no longer sponsor beneficiaries to do programs outside the country while such programs are available in Ghana. We are cutting cost on the public purse,” he indicated.
He also announced a new focus on the informal sector. Under the new reforms, scholarships won’t be limited to academic pathways—artisans, mechanics, and farmers, for example, may also receive support to study or train abroad and return to improve their trades.
“Scholarships will be given to those in the informal sector to travel outside the country to learn and come back to improve their respective sectors. For example mechanics, artisans and farmers,” he stated.
Touching on finances, the Registrar revealed that the Secretariat is under significant pressure, with outstanding debts owed to countries like the UK, France, and Russia. The cost of overseas education continues to rise, and as it stands, Ghana has unpaid stipends totaling £13 million.
Another issue he raised was the increasing number of scholarship beneficiaries who choose to stay abroad after graduation, rather than returning to contribute to Ghana’s development.
“No Objection Letters will be approved for graduates who were funded by government to stay abroad. These letters allow them to remain and work in their host countries after graduation. Any student who wants to finish and stay abroad automatically forfeits their stipends as soon as your letter is received,” said Mr. Asafo Adjei.
To strengthen these reforms, Mr. Asafo Agyei said a bill is currently before Parliament’s Legal Committee. If passed, it will turn the Scholarship Secretariat into a statutory authority with new powers—including converting scholarships into loans for those who refuse to return after their studies.
“These steps are necessary if we want to protect public resources and invest wisely in the future of this country. The goal is not just to send people abroad, but to develop minds that will return and help build Ghana,” he stated.