The Fourth Estate Archives - Ghana Education News

The scholarships Secretariat has once again been exposed on how it blows millions abroad on courses available in Ghana.

In a recent investigation conducted by The Fourth Estate, concerning the disbursement of funds by the Scholarships Secretariat, startling revelations have emerged regarding the allocation of resources. The report sheds light on how millions are being spent abroad on courses that are readily available within Ghana.

The plight of individuals like Gilbert Addo, whose academic aspirations were thwarted due to financial constraints, underscores a systemic issue. Despite possessing exemplary academic credentials, Addo’s plea for financial aid to pursue his Master’s degree locally went unheard. Consequently, he resorted to seeking opportunities overseas, where he secured a full scholarship for his PhD studies, highlighting the disparity in funding allocation.

Upon scrutinizing data obtained through an arduous Right to Information process, it was revealed that the Scholarships Secretariat had disbursed significant sums totaling GHS237.5 million in 2019 and GHS200 million in 2020, predominantly towards foreign scholarships. This expenditure pattern raises concerns, especially considering the availability of comparable programs within Ghanaian universities at significantly lower costs.

The Scholarships Secretariat, established in 1960, initially aimed to provide financial assistance to academically gifted yet financially disadvantaged students. However, recent practices indicate a divergence from this mission, as evidenced by the preference for funding foreign education over domestic opportunities.

A critical analysis of the data reveals instances where substantial sums were allocated for courses available locally. For instance, Mathias Abednego Bonir received extensive financial support for programs in Project Management and Human Resource Management abroad, despite comparable courses being offered by Ghanaian institutions. This raises questions about the judicious utilization of public funds and the prioritization of resource allocation.

Moreover, Prof. Peter Quartey, Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research at the University of Ghana, advocates for a more targeted approach in scholarship allocation. He emphasizes the importance of directing funds towards critical areas of national development, such as Information Technology, cyber security, artificial intelligence, and medicine.

In light of these revelations, there is a pressing need for a reassessment of scholarship policies and practices. The Scholarships Secretariat must reevaluate its criteria for funding allocation, prioritize domestic educational opportunities, and ensure transparency and accountability in its operations. Failure to address these issues risks perpetuating inequities and hindering the realization of national human resource development goals.

In a recent exposé by The Fourth Estate, the Scholarship Secretariat in Ghana has been revealed to favor political connections over merit when awarding scholarships. The investigation uncovered a disturbing trend of qualified applicants, like Franklina Mensah (not her real name), being overlooked in favor of individuals with political affiliations, including MPs, ministers, and even the presidency.

Franklina’s story epitomizes the struggle of many deserving students who are denied scholarships despite their academic excellence and financial need. Despite her stellar credentials and a promising proposal for a master’s degree in the UK, Franklina was informed that her name had been removed from the scholarship shortlist due to protocol demands from higher offices.

This systemic issue was further illuminated when The Fourth Estate requested scholarship data from the years 2019 and 2020. Initially met with resistance, the data eventually revealed alarming discrepancies in the allocation of scholarship funds. Instead of prioritizing needy students as intended, the Scholarship Secretariat allocated significant sums to politically connected individuals and their associates.

Among the findings were cases where individuals associated with political elites received substantial funding for prestigious international programs, despite lacking genuine financial need. Furthermore, children of prominent figures in Ghanaian society were also beneficiaries of government scholarships, exploiting their privilege and connections to access educational opportunities meant for the underprivileged.

The investigation also uncovered instances of multiple scholarships being awarded to certain individuals, while many deserving applicants struggled to secure even one scholarship. These multiple awards were often justified as administrative errors or for complementary courses, but they underscored the mismanagement and insensitivity of the Scholarship Secretariat.

Despite claims from the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, that scholarships are awarded based on criteria beyond financial need, such as Ghanaian citizenship and admission to a university, the lack of transparency and accountability remains a significant concern. Dr. Agyemang’s assertion that recommendations from influential individuals sometimes influence scholarship awards further raises questions about the integrity of the selection process.

Critics, including Dr. Clement Apaak and Prof. Peter Quartey, have condemned the preferential treatment given to politically connected individuals and their relatives, emphasizing the importance of scholarships for the truly needy. They advocate for an independent and equitable selection process that prioritizes merit and genuine financial need, rather than political connections.

As the exposé sheds light on the Scholarship Secretariat’s flawed practices, it calls for urgent reforms to ensure that scholarships are awarded fairly and transparently, in line with their intended purpose of supporting Ghana’s brightest but neediest students.

How Scholarships Secretariat Blows Millions Abroad on Courses Available in Ghana

Ghana Scholarship Secretariat Exposed for Favoring Political Connections Over Merit